Discussion for article #236407
R.I.P., B.B. Lucille weeps…
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I count this man as one of my guitar teachers. I dreaded this day. Thanks to The King of the Blues.
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Even though he lived to ripe old age, it breaks my heart. Especially the fact that so many people have no idea that the music world has lost a giant. So long, B.B.
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RIP - BB King.
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The thrill is gone. RIP B.B. King.
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I would just say the world has lost a giant. Musically he is incredibly important–I would say every single rock-n-roll guitar solo owes a debt to him. But he just had such an expansive, engaging classy personality that he became the singular ambassador of a whole genre of music for the world (without ever becoming a novelty act). Very sad day.
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Everybody forget what I said. This.
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I had the pleasure of see BB several times. Gibson made several “Lucilles” specifically for him. That’s quite a honor. And I hoe those instruments are kept in a place of honor in his memory.
I play banjo… but not today. No, not today.
R.I.P. BB
:sad:
The Lucille BB played most late in his career was stolen but was recovered and given back to him.
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About 6 months ago I was speaking to a guy working at a hardware store near my house who used to play bass. Maybe 20 years ago or so he got a call from a musician friend who told him to pack his bass and do a weekend gig somewhere. Wouldn’t tell him what it was about. Keep in mind, this hardware guy is a nobody in music… just a dude noodling around with some local friends in unknown bands. He was picked up by a limo, whisked away to the airport, and given 1st class treatment when he arrived in Seattle… which is where he found out he’d be filling-in for BB King’s bassist, who had the flu. The hardware-store-bassist had nothing but glowing praise for King, who treated him with total respect, was warm, generous (paid him 10K for two nights, I think it was) and was full of compliments for the bassist’s musicianship. It’s hard to recount the whole story here, but the thing that struck me at the time was that the hardware guy didn’t talk about King’s music, he talked about how great the man was. Based on the story I heard, not only was BB King a giant in music, he was a giant in heart and soul. Pretty cool.
So, I salute to a life well-lived. Well done Mr. King, and thanks for enriching our lives with your music.
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It’s funny what brings something like this home to you. I bought “Live at Cook County Jail” on vinyl as a teenager, and when I got it home and opened it up to play it the damn disc inside was a country album by Ferlin Husky, for Christ’s sake. And I just realized that if I’d ever met B.B. King in person I could have told him and he might have gotten a laugh from it, but I can’t ever do that now.
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That’s made very clear in every story I’ve ever read about him. Just a tremendous human being. And always striving as an artist too, never satisfied, never complacent.
Go ahead and play anyway, Darr.
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IMHO this one great musician had more impact on the world of music than Elvis ever did. One was a guy who bucked tradition the other, B.B., influenced many many other musicians during his long career.
I’ll listen to the wind now as it forever carries your guitar riffs and vocals. Bless you.
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Didn’t see this tribute posted here until about 15 minutes ago, though I see the AP article was posted early this morning. Either that or I missed it here.
Just a quick personal anecdote: My oldest brother turned me onto BB King in the late 60’s. My brother played piano. He was easily capable of playing classical, blues and dixieland jazz by ear. He loved BB King so much that he would often pretend to play backup to his songs as if he was in the room, especially on Friday nights while my mom was preparing our family’s Sabbath dinner. I grew up religious, what can I say. I know, I know, TMI but…I came to love the blues during this time. The mixture of good cooking wafting throughout the house, Sabbath meal with the better than average dishes put out, and great music, particularly blues and jazz B.B. King style…Its something you don’t forget easily.
Rest in heavenly peace, because if perchance there is a heaven…he’s sure to be in it, still singing his blues.
I got to attend a concert by BB King in the early 80’s. He was touring and traveled in a nicely appointed bus. Just before going on stage as he stepped down from the bus he took a misstep and wrenched an ankle. He did that show sitting in a chair which on previous occasions I had not seen him do. After the opening song he took the time to explain what had happened to the audience. And he felt he had to apologize. I was very much impressed by that act of humbleness.
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