It always seemed to me that BB King was larger than life itself.
That perfect note, that deep felt solo, that big smile and that deep growl followed by perfect vibrato in his gifted voice.
The definition of a great musician is when you instantly recognize them no matter what they play – more than anyone else that was true of BB King
He not only set the bar for multiple generations of blues guitar players and blues musicians, but held everyone to a human standard that we need so much in today’s world.
An unconditional love, optimistic view that sets expectations for those who may have been down or trodden to rise up and be the best they can be…and we get that through his music too. Just because he played blues didn’t mean it gave us the blues. In fact, he gave us an outlet through which to FEEL real emotion, to stop and think about things and get back in tune with our heart instead of our head.
Here is one of my favorite BB King tunes…I can’t believe an entire year has gone by since the King of the Blues was silenced – maybe that’s because he still sings and plays on in my head as if he were just around the corner at his favorite juke joint or concert hall.
That sound will carry me through the next year, until we stop and remember the King of the Blues once again…until then, let’s continue to listen and learn from the vast material BB King left us with.
This is “How Blue Can You Get” performed live at Sing Sing Prison in 1972 – all I can say is WOW!
Filed under bb king, Blues Legends by on May 15th, 2016. Comment. 
Local Memphis TV station reports on the incredible local support for BB King’s final return to Memphis –
Stars including Keb Mo, Tony Coleman (BB’s drummer for the last 37 years), Bobby Rush and Rodd Bland (son of late, great Bobby Blue Bland) payed personal tribute to the King of the Blues in a very heartfelt, small town way.
Particularly moving was the return of BB’s Lucille Gibson guitar down Beale Street one final time.
Wonderful tribute indeed. The funeral will be held this Saturday.
Filed under bb king by on May 28th, 2015. Comment.
There is such a massive legacy of recordings, interviews and performances from the King of the Blues – BB King that although we lost a shining light this past week, we will always be able to remember and rekindle the spirit of the MAN!
I absolutely cherish this performance at Farm Aid because it depicts so much about why BB King was such a terrific artist and performer…
- The first 1:30 he clearly struggles with finding the groove – either his E or B string is out of tune slightly and he hits some sour notes as every performer does, but he plays through it with the passion and determination to get to that special place where a higher power begins to flow through him toward his audience
- He hits that groove around 1:33 with a perfectly placed high note that electrifies the audience – such a terrific example of BB King being every bit the artist, just like Picasso or any genius artist that creates that amazing work, but he would do it night after night after night!
- Starting at 2:13 he shares notes with the horns – another staple of BB King’s amazing sound – where he shows his little-mentioned genius at overall production and orchestration. BB always had a big band with a big sound and that demands tight production – he certainly had that. In fact, it was because he demanded that big band that he had to keep working well into his 80’s – he could have trimmed his band and likely retired on 30-40 bigger dates each year, some collaborations and called it a day. Compromise wasn’t in his mindset however. The same intense persistence that allowed him to escape his poor childhood would continue unrelenting right to has last days.
- Somewhere around the 3:00 minute mark he breaks his E string, and then, not missing a single soulful note he continues to deliver the most important lyrics to the song while re-stringing his Gibson himself…showing once again this guy lets nothing stop him from winning over his audience.
All of this in a 5-minute performance, yes BB King is one of the best live performers of ALL TIME in any music genre and was the best blues guitarist right up there with the other King’s.
Enjoy!
Filed under bb king, Blues Legends by on May 17th, 2015. Comment.
Jimmie Vaughan kicking some ass with DF/W (stands for Dallas Fort-Worth representing an area in Texas) backed by an amazing band really makes for some magic…
Always thought Jimmie’s strengths were:
- Making simple so packed with feeling
- Writing catchy melodies
- Amazing rhythm and back-up man
- Top notch band leader – knows how to put together an arrangement and a show
- Steeped in the history of the blues especially Jimmy Reed, King’s (Albert, Freddie and BB)
What’s your take?
Filed under blues guitar, jimmie vaughan by on Dec 27th, 2014. Comment.
I never stop being amazed at the difference BB King has made not only to the world of music, but to the world in general. It’s usually not until someone passes on (and BB is far from that point…) that we learn of the stories of how generous and giving someone has been throughout their life. Yet with BB, we know that he CONSTANTLY puts his energy into helping troubled youth, gives back to his Southern communities and really is THE ambassador for the blues.
Case in point is the BBKing Blues Museum close to where BB was born and in the community (Indianola MS) where music is of course front and center, but so is education about the delta, its people and programs to support creativity and self-confidence. Along the way we get to learn about the inspiring story of how a sharecropper’s son made it from Indianola in the delta to Memphis and then the world. His has never been a story about his own greatness, it is rather about what is possible…what anyone can do to follow in his footsteps when you hang on to hope and optimism over fear and pessimism.
Has there ever been a more important time for such a message?
It seems that BB King’s message is just as important today for the world as it was 60-years ago.
Here’s a quick video on the museum – I know I have it on my top 10 list for travel. If you have visited the BB King museum, let us know your thoughts – leave a comment.
Filed under bb king by on Sep 1st, 2012. Comment.
Dance halls, Juke joints, seedy bars, the local watering hole, larger arenas and intimate theaters – blues music has always been about connecting with the people and pulling them in emotionally in as honest and pure a way as possible.
A top-notch blues shows IS about the performance, but it’s not about the flash, electronics and light show as much as it is about the energy, the passion, and empathy as the performer reaches deep into the heart of their fans and wins them over many times during a performance.
That’s why blues shows are so memorable…that’s exactly how I was hooked when I saw my first Stevie Ray Vaughan show way back in the 1980’s and have been to thousands of blues shows since.
Recently, BB King came back to Indianola for his annual BB King’s Homecoming performance (a community where King used to pick cotton as a youngster) for such an intimate performance where once again blues guitar royalty led the way guiding today’s young artists in the direction of becoming CLOSER to their audience than more distant.
At 86 King is the elder statesman – everything he does, you can be sure, is watched by those who are on the way up in blues music, so these sorts of situations are very important to the future of the blues where the past comes together with the present and guides the future.
King has always worn the ambassador’s role well – knowing that if he can attract the kids and teens not only can he keep them from getting into trouble, giving them an alternative path in life, but also keep the blues alive and well for generations to come.
By all accounts King allowed a young group of 11-14 year old’s (part of a rock ensemble from Clarksdale MS) to come aboard his “home” – his tour bus – to have a chat. Following that intimate encounter, he performed inches from his audience on a grass hill, connecting with his ecstatic audience.
The blues has always been about connecting with the audience…I have met many of my blues mentors at clubs or shows, that wouldn’t happen at today’s rock or pop shows. Intimacy is just another key human value that keeps the blues alive.
Filed under bb king by on Aug 28th, 2012. Comment.
Obama kicking back with some of the BIG GUNS of the blues including BB King, Buddy Guy, Mick Jagger, and Jeff Beck as they film a special Tribute To The Blues related to black history month – should be televised Feb 27th on PBS, I’ll be watching for that.
I think its great when a President like Obama not only puts his weight behind something like this, but actually has the courage to stand up and live out everyone’s dream – to jam with the greatest bluesmen alive in King and Guy.
Not a bad voice either, have to give him credit for belting it out – but he can use some more authority in getting his message across (wait a minute, I was talking about the song!)
Not a great fan of mixing politics and art, but in this case they all looked to be having a great time…would have been cool to see him with a hat and some sunglasses though, what do you think?
Filed under Blues Legends by on Feb 24th, 2012. Comment.
