Heard the news this morning.
Glad I got to see him live a few times, RIP BB.

~"Love is Strong"~

R.I.P. This is like losing a family member, I saw him a bunch though, always at the front of the stage.

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Always found his music kind of boring and unmoving, never understood what the fuss was about.

Nontheless, RIP. He inspired many

Thank you for being here and passing it on.

A couple things that really stick in my memory of having worked a show with Mr. King.

First he was really nice to the crew, totally approachable and as I've said, he spent over an hour talking to me a a couple other guys about music, guitars and approach to the blues. I remember him saying something about how storytelling was an important part of performing songs and I recall how big and strong his fingers looked as we watched him demonstrate some of his classic fills. I thought "well that looks pretty damn easy"....of course I've never quite been able to duplicate those "easy" licks.

Second I remember being a bit shocked that he carried his own amp onto the stage. It wasn't actually his amp, just a standard stock 2 speaker Fender Twin or Deluxe or something we had rented for him. His contract asked for two of them, one for a spare. He carried it to to the front center of the stage, pulled his chair up next to it, then went back and got his guitar case. He sat down and opened his case and pulled out a black hollow body with "BB King" pearl inlayed on the fretboard. He plugged in, turned the amp on, and spent about a minute adjusting the controls. I recall he basically just turned everything UP, starting with the midrange, then the bass and finally the treble, playing a few runs in between every adjustment. It didn't take long, and here was this legend, with a rented amp, no special effects or treatment, sounding awesome! No frills for this guy, no nitpicking and long soundcheck, no special treatment, just plug and play. He didn't even play with the band prior to the show, just made sure his rig was working OK before he retired with his guitar to the dressing room.

Humble, easy going and gentleman don't even begin to describe that man, a true gem and American treasure who will be sorely missed.

peace

@chop :

get Live At The Regal" before you jump to hasty conclusions...



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2015-05-15 22:24 by dcba.

BB with BB (Big Bird)





Rest in peace Mr. King.


"As we say in England, it can get a bit trainspottery"

Bill Wyman pays tribute:

[www.bbc.co.uk]


"As we say in England, it can get a bit trainspottery"

I cannot develop it. But certainly, a blues genre defining musician has been lost with BB King passing away. Another sad moment for lovers of the blues and / or bluesbased music. His recorded music remains.

Thanks so much to all on here that posted of there own memories of meeting B.B. King or working with him.

So nice to hear that he comes across as a really nice guy.

So many tributes coming through from a lot of musicians and performers who appreciated him as a big influence on their own work.

God Bless You B.B. King.

The Thrill Has Gone.

A giant has passed. I enjoyed seeing B and his band play many times. Real pros. Once I saw BB play in Alberschwende, Austria, July 2001. Willy DeVille was the opening act for this outdoor gig. Just before BB King came on the weather switched from summer warm to a cold, nasty,stormy deal that brought a huge downpour. BB Kings band came on and said they were going to give everything they had tonight for those that waited around soaked in the rain for the gig. Played extra long and thanked everyone for coming. What a gent!

Saw him first in 1969 when I was 16 at Ravinia up in the North Chicago burbs. We jumped the fence and snuck in. That was my first real blues gig and I was all in after that. BB was always soulful player, but that first time I saw him I was amazed. Would have loved to have seen BB and Peter Green play in England with the mighty Mac circa 1969. I have heard those gigs were scary good. Pity there are no bootlegs of that stuff.

B made alot of people happy. RIP.

His first record from 1949.






"As we say in England, it can get a bit trainspottery"

Quote
Naturalust
A couple things that really stick in my memory of having worked a show with Mr. King.

...

Really nice story, thanks for sharing! BB was definitely one of the musicians that I would have loved to have a chance to talk to.

I have really enjoyed reading his autobiography - very sincere and it really felt like if BB was talking to me. Again - nice guy, it is a pitty he is gone.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2015-05-15 22:33 by Happy24.

"It didn't take long, and here was this legend, with a rented amp, no special effects or treatment, sounding awesome! No frills for this guy, no nitpicking and long soundcheck, no special treatment, just plug and play."

thank you for your words Mister Naturalust

"We had some great times and I will miss him. Wanted to share a moment from1997 in Chicago. Peace BB.” - KR



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"As we say in England, it can get a bit trainspottery"

I like this, it's a staple on my personal audio device:

Hi all.

It´s a very sad day.
But, all in all, B.B. King was one of those men who did contribute to make the world a better place.

Thank you so much.

Rest in Peace.

I shook the man's hand, many many years ago (3rd november 1990) when I was a young brand manager and he was touring with the Philip Morris Superband. My boss and me didn't want to disturb him before the concert, but he insisted. A gentlemen and true professional. Big hands, I remember.. Saw him in concert before and since, but the last time I saw him in Montreux, I couldn't last the concert. It was too sad to see a fragile old man just playing a couple of notes. That was not how I wanted to remember him.

RIP...............Thank you for the great music....

__________________________

Untill his seventieth B.B. still did three hundred concerts a year. In his entire life he has thereby been more than 15,000 times on the podium.
The Man has lightened the World

A great loss for music.
Saw him back in '98 or '99 from the front row, wonderful showman. I was real impressed that he cared enough to tour with his own large band. He was a true King of the Blues, he did it the only way he knew how.
Funnily enough a few years later, I was dating a nurse who treated him, for diabetic complications, while he was in town; he'd been rushed into the Renal unit where she worked. She told me that he was in pretty rough shape even back then. Yet he was still touring the world doing 200+ shows a year

Perhaps the last one of his generation is gone. What a great man.

RIP

Rest in peace BB. You were truly the spokesman for the blues! And thank you Rolling Stones for turning me on to BB and others like him.

God bless the King. Love

We have been blessed to have BB King around as long as we did.
A true King of the blues. His legend will live on. Peace.

Very sad news rest in peace B.B. Thank you for all the great music.

R.I.P. Now, I am going to go play Indianola Mississippi Seeds by the late Mister King.

RIP BB King

Saw him a number of times; always great but the first time in 1972 was a revelation. I was used to seeing long hairs in jeans regaling the audience with "hey mans" and f bombs and here was a virtual orchestra (shout out to Sonny Freeman and the Unusuals) -- grown men and expert musicians in tuxes calibrated like a Swiss watch. And B.B. at the helm, a master of performance and showmanship. And delivering. And there were a lot his albums in play for us in those days -- "At the Regal", "Live at Cook County Jail", "Indianola", "In London", "To Know You is to Love You", "Guess Who"....

Peace be with you and thanks for all the great music.