What B.B. King Learned This Year!

I saw him in the mid-80s on my university campus and it was the first show I'd attended where the audience was an equal mix of white undergraduates and middle-aged African Americans ... it seems very naive now, but I was startled to see the ladies who fed us in the cafeteria shouting for B.B. and to realize they understood and appreciated him a whole lot better than I did ... an educational moment for sure

RIP

I need to listen again to his album with Bobby Bland. RIP

The last time I saw him, at least a decade ago, the climatic numbers were free jazz blues, but still in the pocket. And in the late 70s, he did a couple albums with the Crusaders, def not just smoove, however. Going back to the early 60s, a good section on him in Charles Keil's Urban Blues. He went a lot of places.
Chronicles of the King, by a reporter who interviewed him several times:
http://www.clarionledger.com/story/news/2015/05/15/mississippi-mourns-bb-king/27360285/

I saw him twice, once in the 90s and once in the early oughts, and he was already leaning pretty heavily on his backup guitarist and coasting through some pretty short sets. Really wish I could have seen him in his prime. RIP.

Saw him once, though it was as much a lecture/demonstration/q&a as a concert:
http://articles.chicagotribune.com/1990-02-19/news/9001140942_1_blues-style-king-standards-musicians

It was pretty fascinating, and to be in the same room as that sound was an amazing feeling.

I think the only time I saw hin live was a short set at Radio City Music Hall in '97, in between a screening of the When We Were Kings doc and an appearance by Muhammad Ali. RIP.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=svoPEQHzR7s

I saw him at least three times. The first time was at Cornell in December, totally by surprise. The woman who I was dating at the time took us. That was an amazing night, to be sure.

The second was at a theater in Baltimore in the summer of 1996, where that same woman and I were two of possibly 8 non-black people in the audience. The rest of the audience was a 30 year reunion of Poly High School. And it was double bill - BB and Bobby Bland. THAT was one of the top five best shows I've ever had the privilege of being at. Amazing.

The third was at his annual Indianola, MS homecoming concert and BBQ. I had lived in Indianola for about two years, and my younger brother and I got to see him play for his hometown. Again, amazing.

I put on Live at the Regal this morning, and plugged in my electric guitar, and realized that I was not only able to play along with his guitar parts, but that I was able to play his vocal parts, largely from memory. I don't really know if I'll ever be able to fully explain the profound effect his playing and overall musicianship has had on me, but I'm glad it's woven so completely into who I am and how I approach music.

I knew this day was coming, but I had no idea how it would effect me. Not overly sad - mostly grateful, and somewhat melancholy, but I know I learned a lot from him, and I'm thankful as hell for that.

*That was December, 1995.

@ericburdon

I first met #bbking in 1965 @ApolloTheater Years and years of beautiful blues. You'll be remembered. RIP BB King'

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CFFEvRPUUAA9Tak.jpg

Vernon Reid
‏@vurnt22

So Jon Tiven & I were in the studio waiting for Mr King to show up-He came in, sharp as a tack; jacket & tie! I was in a denim shirt(no tie)

Vernon Reid
‏@vurnt22

Mr. King looked me up & down & quipped "I KNOW we didn't come here for VACATION". I believe I shrank down into my shoes SCHOOLED...

Vernon Reid
‏@vurnt22

By the the 3rd take, Mr King's jacket was off, his tie was loosened, and we had a GREAT session! He played & sang MAGNIFICENTLY. INCREDIBLE!

Vernon Reid
‏@vurnt22

To put that story in context, #BBKing was the FIRST Black man I saw play electric guitar on TV (Ed Sullivan)- an INDELIBLE IMPRESSION ON ME.

so awesome

i am loving the stories that are coming out

yes, very much so. I never saw this thread before, that 2006 piece is fantastic.

RIP

Check out today's Google Doodle!

https://i.imgur.com/UIa73cM.jpg

nothing he is dead!