We lost Riley King last night. A.k.a. 'Blues-Boy King'. He was 89.
Lucille won't be singing tonight.
B.B. was my copilot a lot while driving Mex 1. XM channel 70, 'Bluesville' is what I would run.
Thank you, gentle spirit, for giving us all your gift of love and music for over 70 years. A beautiful light went out last night, but the thrill will
never be gone.El Jefe - 5-15-2015 at 10:27 AM
Listening to BB right now on XM. Yes, he will be missed.elgatoloco - 5-15-2015 at 10:54 AM
Saw him perform live once at the Monterey Jazz Festival in mid-80's. It was a thrill. I was reading about him today and how his signature style came
about.
"Because King couldn't figure out how to play and sing simultaneously, he separated the two functions, laying the blueprint for the sung verse
followed by the extended solo passage that would become a crucial element in blues as well as in rock music rooted in the blues. That template was
exploited by subsequent generations of players, from Clapton and Jimi Hendrix on through to John Mayer and the Red Hot Chili Peppers."
Considering his background and how and where he came from he really made something of himself and we all have the music to enjoy.
One of my all time favs is How Blue Can You Get - it was his encore when I saw him and it brought down the house, everyone on their feet screaming and
singing along.
I've been down hearted baby
ever since the day we met
I said I've been down hearted baby
ever since the day we met
our love is nothing but the blues, woman
baby, how blue can you get?
You're evil when I'm with you, baby
and you're jealous when we're apart
I said You're evil when I'm with you, baby
and you're jealous when we're apart
how blue can you get baby
the answer is right here in my heart
I gave you a brand new Ford
But you said: I want a Cadillac
I bought you a ten dollar dinner
and you said: thanks for the snack
I let you live in my pent house
you said it just a shack
I gave you seven children
and now you wanna give them back
I said I've been down hearted baby
ever since the day we met
our love is nothing but the blues
baby, how blue can you get?
He had two wives and 15 children. He definitely got around.
RIPBajahowodd - 5-15-2015 at 03:59 PM
I had a face to face with him back in the 90's. Wonderful guy. Exquisite musician.chuckie - 5-15-2015 at 04:01 PM
Amen....and Go with God, BBtiotomasbcs - 5-15-2015 at 05:04 PM
Where did you OLd Blues Dogs see BB? Only once, but very memorable Venue--Golden Bear in HB. Awesome. His Band/orchestra played a half hour intro
to Mr. King. Then the intro... like James Brown.. Go into the Wind, Amigo. Tiobajabuddha - 5-15-2015 at 10:39 PM
Just as a post-script, I have an old '58 Hagstrom acoustic that I bought in 1977. Am getting her out of the guitar hospital Monday when I go to ABQ
for an MRI...... I digress....
I named her 'Sweet Lucille' when I bought her, from a line from "Cool Hand Luke". Found out shortly after that BB''s axe was "Lucille". This is a
public apology to The King for slight mistaken plagiarism. The original Lucille, for those who don't know her, was a gal in a black honkey-tonk bar
that had a.... shall we say... dispute over...... ahem... who would be her suitor, and in the tussle of testosterone a bucket of kerosene that was
burning to keep the bar warm was kicked over. Of course, the place was all wood, and torched quickly. Mr. King was the current entertainer, and was
safely outside when it dawned on him his tool of the trade, his guitar, was still inside.... he dashed in, did retrieve his axe, and damned near lost
his life in the process. The story goes, he tracked down the woman that was the cause of the row, and her name was "Lucille". He named his guitar
in her honor, to remind him of NEVER do anything that stupid again!.
Gibson eventually put our a "Lucille" addition to their line.
I remember BB King in black-and-white, one of the first performers of color on TV. There's nothing he's ever done been spoiled by bad news.
Ridin' With The King. Bajahowodd - 5-16-2015 at 05:03 PM
Where did you OLd Blues Dogs see BB? Only once, but very memorable Venue--Golden Bear in HB. Awesome. His Band/orchestra played a half hour intro
to Mr. King. Then the intro... like James Brown.. Go into the Wind, Amigo. Tio
My encounter with BB King was at the Ventura Theater. Little known fact was that there was an alley aside the place where the artists went to smoke.
Waiting in line to get in, I left my group and went to the alley, and encountered him there.
It was not the only time that happened, because I was also able to have a great chat with Emmylou Harris there.Kgryfon - 5-17-2015 at 03:36 PM
Saw him at the Circle Star Theatre in Redwood city in 1991 with a guy I had just started dating. We had very close seats; at one point B.B. King
looked right at us and gave us nod and a smile.
R.I.P. to a great man...Martyman - 5-18-2015 at 02:13 PM
1974 San Gabriel Civic Auditorium. I was a junior in High School and my older brother told me to go. We sat in the second row behind some ladies that
left before the encore. BB comes out for the encore "The Thrill is Gone" and we jump into the front row. After...BB looks right at me and tosses his
guitar pick which I caught.
What a great performer. I love the way he would tuck his guitar to the side and talk to the audience.redhilltown - 5-20-2015 at 12:17 AM
Saw B.B. live over 20 times in my life. Just get "Live at the Regal".
"I gave you seven children/and now you wanna give em back".
Yeah...I'm down hearted baby...how blue can you get?chuckie - 5-20-2015 at 04:49 AM
Circle Star theatre, Redwood City...Man that brings back memories.....One more time...Thanks BB.....
