Eric Clapton considered him his mentor. So did Jimmy Hendrix. James Brown considered him his equal. For fifty plus years he was a major influence on other artists.
That picture of Clapton chauffering him was done for an album the two did together called Riding with the King. Clapton initiated the project. It went 2X multi platinum in the U.S. (rare for a blues album) and won a Grammy.
My dad got that album for his birthday when I was ~9 years old. For some reason I got really hooked on the music, it made me start taking guitar lessons and has shaped much of my music taste.
I came here to specifically mention this album. It is truly stellar. It's available as DVD audio too, mixed as 5.1 surround sound. It's one of the better 5.1 album mixes I've heard.
I heard B.B. was in the hospital not too long ago and hoped all would be OK. He was/is truly an enormous influence on the blues genre and will be missed.
When it comes to aging music icons who still perform, I think of Paul McCartney, The Rolling Stones. They're in their early seventies, kids compared to B.B. King, touring in his late eighties. If you ever catch me booing a man like B.B. King for an erratic performance, punch me in the nose. Hard.
I opened the liner notes for Riding with the King, which has a great picture of B.B. King and Eric Clapton playing side by side, sitting on Fender amps (not sure if this link will work):
Googling a bit, I found out (or maybe I knew at one time) that B.B. King was the cousin of Bukka White, who first sparked my interest in the blues. There's something about that gravely voice and slide guitar.
It shows Eric Clapton, widely considered one of the most skilled and successful blues guitarists, chauffeuring B.B. King, implying that Clapton honours and reveres him.
When you learn to play guitar you learn about the main staple of blues music, the Pentatonic Scale, a simple palette of just 5 notes that you can follow all the way up the guitar neck (or piano, voice, or bass for that matter)
B.B. King has a portion of the Pentatonic box patterns for guitar named after him, it's a place on the guitar neck known to guitarists as the "the B.B. King" box.
Then you learn how to play a lot of popular rock and pop songs, then you realize the overwhelming majority of guitar rock music over the past 50 years is very derivative of blues riffs, in fact it's all just blues music played really loud, distorted, and to a straight rhythm.
It's staggering to think how many great rock musicians have come and gone, and B.B. predated all of them by decades and outlived them for decades more, performing the whole time.
We talk a lot on HN about 'doing what you love' This was a man who, against all odds, truly did that. For most of his life he was playing over 300 shows a year and even this year when he was ill he played over 100. Very sad he's gone and I never had the opportunity to hear him sing live.
One slight tweak to the "doing what you love" meme:
BB reported in an interview years ago that he started off busking Gospel music. He found that lots of people came up and patted him on the head and praised him but no-one put any money in his hat.
So he switched to blues. Blues fans gave him the thumbs up and put money in his hat. The rest is history.
This is actually also in the obituary linked here.
There's no way it's anywhere near as superficial as he makes it sound -- that's definitely just self-depreciation. I can't imagine anyone working that hard to teach, work with, and publicize other bluesmen simply because it brings in more money, especially at his age/wealth.
Joe Bonamassa sticks out in my mind as one of the people BB King really worked with.
I don't know the history, so I could be wrong, but maybe when he explains that he means he did it as a way to sustain himself (and family I'd assume), rather than it being better-paying just for the money. It could be that it started for that reasoning and then later once the style had become his life, he stuck with it.
Again, could be completely wrong so take of that what you will. Just my opinion.
I remember that. I think the point was that the people who were supposed to be good (i.e. gospel fans) would listen but not pay him any money. The blues fans (and at the time I believe a lot of people considered that the devils music) did. I think it was just more of a humorous point than a serious point about a career decision.
I feel blessed to have been able to see both of them live, even just once, and even before I knew much about Gary Moore (he was supporting someone else), but was truly moved by Still Got the Blues live.
Of course you never appreciate this as much as you do once they're gone. May they both rest in peace.
I got to see Moore but missed King - my friend went to see him but didn't tell me about the tour! Gutting.
Moore's blues songs are a million times better than his rock era, IMHO. Some nasty-sounding guitar tone there.
Additionally, King did very well to keep playing the blues over such a long period of time. If you listen to the songs from the 80s you can hear that he had to adjust (slap bass / boosted treble bass, round squishy synths and massive reverbs, horrible tom sounds) but he did well to carry on playing the blues through it and come back to a more traditional (normal!) sound afterwards.
"Moore's blues songs are a million times better than his rock era, IMHO. Some nasty-sounding guitar tone there."
Say what you want about the tone, but watch this and tell me his 80s playing isn't superb, I dare you! ;-)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KFUW621lgXY
BB deserves a good send off. I don't know what to say, other than thank you for everything you did for the guitar, and for music, and for being a top bloke. I didn't know him personally but love how generous and charming he was in this video (some stunning playing by Derek Trucks too): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SS0NHlWgi5w
"I never had the opportunity to hear him sing live."
I did. You missed one of the greats. There are many other great singers, songwriters and artists you still can see. He light the stadium with his sound and smile.
Introduced to his music ver yearly in my age. Loved (and still love) this kind of music (even if I live outside the states). After him, I discovered and appreciated so many artists.
His music will live on, reminding people why expressing yourself through arts is so great.
Yeah money is not running the world for some people. Passion like music can drive our lives. Follow what your heart is telling you. Be happy with what you do everyday.
B. B. King was not only the the king of the blues but was know to be a great person as well. His story is inspiring for everyone (not just (blues) musicians). He never blamed his background for any faults he might've had rather he channeled it to create the unique 'value' of his music -- or more correctly, his 'brand' of music. Maybe I'm just muttering nonsense ...he had a profound impact on not just my music sensibilities but on a lot of aspects in life.
Choosing a favourite guitarist is like trying to decide between a favourite wine. So many choices but to me he has always been one of my favourites.
It hard to explain why exactly I, as a guitarist enjoy listening to his music. His heartfelt singing was warming but truthfully it the lady in his life. "Lucille". That's the name of his guitar. With her, he had this amazing tone. Its unbelievable. The way he made Lucille sing. This voice he gave her or she gave him just makes the hairs on the back of my neck stand up every time I listen to the pair of them.
People talk about legacy and he has an amazing one. It's true he has Inspired so many.
But don't be sad today, be happy for the man and the extraordinary life and legacy we celebrate which will continue to live on through his music.
PS I recommend the albums Deuces Wild and Riding with the King for your listening today.
His tone is what gets me too. I saw an interview with him on YouTube a few days ago with something that actually really surprised me. When he's on tour outside the US he doesn't bring an amplifier. He plays whatever the venue provides (usually, but not always, a Fender Twin Reverb). He also said he doesn't spend time setting it up. He controls the tone entirely from the guitar.
In the early 2000s (I must have been, what, 21 or 22 at the time), I was at a party and found myself sitting next to the stereo. Since no music was playing at that point, I looked through the CD rack (the parents of the host were on vacation, which was the reason we had the party there, and the CD collection was theirs) and found Riding With The King. I generally liked (and still like) Eric Clapton, so I put it on. The other people at the party were mainly into Hip Hop and electronic music, but they did not complain.
That was my introduction to B.B. King. What else can I say? He will be remembered by so many people, and his music will stay with us.
It's amazing how much emotion he was able to convey with his guitar. I'm so lucky to have seen him a few years ago at a blues festival. He got me into the blues and I've fallen in love with the genre. He will be missed.
As a guitarist B.B. King has always been one of the defining guitar players for me. His style is unmatched and distinct. We lost one of the greats today and I am forever grateful for what impact he and his music has had on my life.
Not sure if Chess Records on the South Side of Chicago is still accepting visitors, but that town has some amazing jazz and blues venues: the Green Mill, Buddy Guy's Legends, Lee's Unleaded, Checkerboard...
Now where did I stash that copy of "King of the Blues" so my old lady wouldn't toss it in the trash ;)
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[ 3.5 ms ] story [ 148 ms ] threadhttps://wavemakermagazine.files.wordpress.com/2012/05/s_a060...
Then there's this one as well:
http://www.pastblues.com/images/files/April/Jimi%20Hendrix%2...
That picture of Clapton chauffering him was done for an album the two did together called Riding with the King. Clapton initiated the project. It went 2X multi platinum in the U.S. (rare for a blues album) and won a Grammy.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Riding_with_the_King_(B.B._King...
I heard B.B. was in the hospital not too long ago and hoped all would be OK. He was/is truly an enormous influence on the blues genre and will be missed.
I was sad to hear that some of his recent performances were poorly received:
http://www.stltoday.com/entertainment/music/reviews/b-b-king...
http://www.dallasnews.com/entertainment/music/headlines/2013...
http://www.azcentral.com/story/entertainment/music/2014/09/2...
When it comes to aging music icons who still perform, I think of Paul McCartney, The Rolling Stones. They're in their early seventies, kids compared to B.B. King, touring in his late eighties. If you ever catch me booing a man like B.B. King for an erratic performance, punch me in the nose. Hard.
http://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/blues-guitarist...
Googling a bit, I found out (or maybe I knew at one time) that B.B. King was the cousin of Bukka White, who first sparked my interest in the blues. There's something about that gravely voice and slide guitar.
B.B. King has a portion of the Pentatonic box patterns for guitar named after him, it's a place on the guitar neck known to guitarists as the "the B.B. King" box.
Then you learn how to play a lot of popular rock and pop songs, then you realize the overwhelming majority of guitar rock music over the past 50 years is very derivative of blues riffs, in fact it's all just blues music played really loud, distorted, and to a straight rhythm.
It's staggering to think how many great rock musicians have come and gone, and B.B. predated all of them by decades and outlived them for decades more, performing the whole time.
http://imgur.com/6UnkEd5 (from http://www.jambands.com/news/2012/12/04/bernard-purdie-joins...)
Hoping people will listen to his style and be inspired to make their instrument sing as well.
Watching Purdie talk about it on YouTube is informative.
The Time featured him in 2009 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aRIWH4HCoz8
The laughs.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hnA8cOahBlQ
Here is the original B.B. King photo.
http://bootlegpedia.com/imagesCache.php?site=bootlegpedia&im...
BB reported in an interview years ago that he started off busking Gospel music. He found that lots of people came up and patted him on the head and praised him but no-one put any money in his hat.
So he switched to blues. Blues fans gave him the thumbs up and put money in his hat. The rest is history.
There's no way it's anywhere near as superficial as he makes it sound -- that's definitely just self-depreciation. I can't imagine anyone working that hard to teach, work with, and publicize other bluesmen simply because it brings in more money, especially at his age/wealth.
Joe Bonamassa sticks out in my mind as one of the people BB King really worked with.
Again, could be completely wrong so take of that what you will. Just my opinion.
Of course you never appreciate this as much as you do once they're gone. May they both rest in peace.
Moore's blues songs are a million times better than his rock era, IMHO. Some nasty-sounding guitar tone there.
Additionally, King did very well to keep playing the blues over such a long period of time. If you listen to the songs from the 80s you can hear that he had to adjust (slap bass / boosted treble bass, round squishy synths and massive reverbs, horrible tom sounds) but he did well to carry on playing the blues through it and come back to a more traditional (normal!) sound afterwards.
Interestingly, he never played chords!
BB deserves a good send off. I don't know what to say, other than thank you for everything you did for the guitar, and for music, and for being a top bloke. I didn't know him personally but love how generous and charming he was in this video (some stunning playing by Derek Trucks too): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SS0NHlWgi5w
It might just be a rubbish mix on the album though - in person it is likely very different.
♬ this thrill is gone away from me ♬ ~ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iUaevnP1LLg
I did. You missed one of the greats. There are many other great singers, songwriters and artists you still can see. He light the stadium with his sound and smile.
I find solace that on a site dedicated to technology and entrepreneurship, respect can still be paid to an artist such as B.B. King.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0yOymBfnmTk
It's not his best concert but the sound and film is good.
His music will live on, reminding people why expressing yourself through arts is so great.
Just take a look at each of these and it'll draw you a picture of the king: http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/b/b_b_king.html
RIP B.B., you'll be surely missed.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xVxCtt3s_1M
It hard to explain why exactly I, as a guitarist enjoy listening to his music. His heartfelt singing was warming but truthfully it the lady in his life. "Lucille". That's the name of his guitar. With her, he had this amazing tone. Its unbelievable. The way he made Lucille sing. This voice he gave her or she gave him just makes the hairs on the back of my neck stand up every time I listen to the pair of them.
People talk about legacy and he has an amazing one. It's true he has Inspired so many.
But don't be sad today, be happy for the man and the extraordinary life and legacy we celebrate which will continue to live on through his music.
PS I recommend the albums Deuces Wild and Riding with the King for your listening today.
That was my introduction to B.B. King. What else can I say? He will be remembered by so many people, and his music will stay with us.
Another great blues musician died last year: Johnny Winter.
[1] http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2259306/
I just hope there is electricity in heaven - because today it'll sound like this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p3KTjeqltuQ
If you have the means and opportunity, I can highly recommend a road trip down to Clarksdale, Missippi to visit the Delta Blues Museum:
http://www.deltabluesmuseum.org/
Not sure if Chess Records on the South Side of Chicago is still accepting visitors, but that town has some amazing jazz and blues venues: the Green Mill, Buddy Guy's Legends, Lee's Unleaded, Checkerboard...
Now where did I stash that copy of "King of the Blues" so my old lady wouldn't toss it in the trash ;)