The legendary B.B. King passed away last night (May 14) in Las Vegas, Nevada at age 89. As King’s website notes, “the thrill is gone.”
Much will continue to be written about King’s guitar playing and his influence on music. For me, he has always been there since I first discovered the blues, and he helped introduce me to many other blues musicians from the past and present. He left us many great songs and albums, such as one of the great live albums of all time, Live at the Regal (1965).
When I first picked up an electric guitar, I did not want to play “Stairway to Heaven,” I wanted to play B.B. King’s great opening riff of “The Thrill is Gone.” And when I think of the way that the blues is a music of comfort that brings joy through troubled times, I cannot help thinking of B.B. King’s performances of “Why I Sing the Blues.” As the singer recounts his troubles but keeps on singing, it somehow never fails to make me smile. Below he performs “Why I Sing the Blues” live in Africa.
RIP B.B.
What is your favorite B.B. King performance? Leave your two cents in the comments.
(Some related Chimesfreedom posts.)
