The Thrill Is Gone - RIP B.B. King

[Moderator1]

so says his lawyer. At 89

'King of the Blues' blues legend B.B. King dead at age 89 - Yahoo News

 

[Starman]

 

[Machine Head]

RIP

 

[User 1019]

Damn. This really hurts.

 

[Steak Snabler]

I mean this in the best way possible, but 89 years for a fat, black man — especially one who was famous and near-universally respected — is a hell of a run.

RIP

 

[Neutral Corner]

RIP, Beale Street Blues Boy.

 

[murphyc]

RIP
Good news is he finally gets to have a great jam session with SRV.

 

[User 1019]

I mean this in the best way possible, but 89 years for a fat, black man — especially one who was famous and near-universally respected — is a hell of a run.

RIP

Especially one who had diabetes for a couple decades.

 

[sgreenwell]

 

[Steak Snabler]

And it will get used again whenever Will Clark kicks off.

 

[Drip]

Had the pleasure of meeting and interviewing him in his hometown of Indianola, Miss. He was actually born on a cotton plantation near Itta Bena, Miss. but considered Indianola home. Taught the King of Rock n Roll a few tricks and they were friends. RIP

 

[trifectarich]

Thanks. That was great. I had always assumed B.B. wrote that song, but the graphics in the video set me straight.

 

[Batman]

Had the pleasure of meeting and interviewing him in his hometown of Indianola, Miss. He was actually born on a cotton plantation near Itta Bena, Miss. but considered Indianola home. Taught the King of Rock n Roll a few tricks and they were friends. RIP

Up until his health started to fade a few years ago, I believe, he did a free outdoor concert every year in Itta Bena or Indianola. One of those Delta towns. Always thought it'd be cool to go, but never had the time or realized exactly when it was. Regret not going now.

 

[Drip]

Indianola. It was his annual Homecoming Celebration. The B.B. King Museum is a great place to visit. It's in Indianola.

 

[expendable]

I had a female Facebook friend post "RIP BBC King". Hmmmmmm....

 

[DanOregon]

 

[LongTimeListener]

Anyone else picking up social media chatter that King was actually completely lame and that liking him is a sign that you know nothing about music?

It reminded me of Reacher's question about who's worse, beer snobs or music snobs.

 

[YankeeFan]

Hadn't heard that.

I love(d) the guy and his music. Granted, he may be the only blues musician many people can name, and if he is the only one you can name, you're probably not a blues aficionado, But, for many, he was an introduction to the blues, that led to further finds, and greater appreciation.

The fact that he was so well respected by other musicians makes me think the theory you mention is flawed. Blues musicians, rock and rollers, and fellow guitarists all seem to have had lot of respect for the guy as a person, and a musician/guitarist.

 

[Huggy]

Watching him on the Tonight Show got this suburban white teenager into the blues in the early 80s. An absolute giant in American music history, his influence cannot be overstated. Sure he'd lost a step or two in his later years but if he had it was a step or two that most musicians never had to begin with.

 

[Steak Snabler]

You can respect the hell out of someone's talent and influence without especially liking their music, which is the way I felt about King to be completely honest.

Also, you might have seen it already, but the Clarion-Ledger's front page today was awesome:

(If you can't see the fine print on your screen, they're all song titles).