B.B. King is dead

[malaise]

Although we knew this was coming, his death makes three great ones in a very short space of time - Percy Sledge Ben E. King and now B.B.

B.B. King was a great musician - king of the Blues. He was 89.

http://www.nbcnews.com/pop-culture/music/b-b-king-king-blues-dead-age-89-n359361
<snip>
B.B. King, whose scorching guitar licks and heartfelt vocals made him the idol of generations of musicians and fans while earning him the nickname "King of the Blues," died late Thursday. He was 89.

Clark County Coroner John Fudenberg confirmed the death to NBC News. Earlier, attorney Brent Bryson told The Associated Press that King died peacefully in his sleep at his home in Las Vegas.

Although he had continued to perform well into his 80s, the 15-time Grammy winner suffered from diabetes and had been in declining health during the past year. He collapsed during a concert in Chicago last October, later blaming dehydration and exhaustion. He had been in hospice care at his Las Vegas home.

Born Riley B. King on Sept. 16, 1925, on a tenant farm near Itta Bena, Mississippi, he was raised by his grandmother after his parents separated and his mother died. He worked as a sharecropper for five years.

For most of a career spanning nearly 70 years, King was not only the undisputed king of the blues but a mentor to scores of guitarists, who included Eric Clapton, Otis Rush, Buddy Guy, Jimi Hendrix, John Mayall and Keith Richards. He recorded more than 50 albums and toured the world well into his 80s, often performing 250 or more concerts a year.

[Arkansas Granny]

1. RIP, Mr. King. You will be missed.

[malaise]

59. Obama's tribute and Obama and BB at the WH

http://thehill.com/blogs/in-the-know/242202-obama-mourns-loss-of-bb-king
<snip>
President Obama on Friday mourned the passing of legendary blues guitarist B.B. King.

“The blues has lost its king, and America has lost a legend,” the president said in a statement. “There’s going to be one killer blues session in heaven tonight.”

King died in his sleep in Las Vegas on Thursday at the age of 89, according to his website.

Obama noted King’s humble beginnings as a sharecropper’s son in Mississippi to his rise as one of America’s most influential musicians.

“No one worked harder than B.B. No one inspired more up-and-coming artists," the president said. "No one did more to spread the gospel of the blues."

The president recalled singing a few lines of “Sweet Home Chicago” on stage with King during a concert at the White House in 2012.
----------------------------------------------------
and Obama and BB at the White House

[marym625]

86. That was great

[LakeVermilion]

2. RIP

When I do eventually drop, I pray to God that it'll happen in one of three ways. Firstly, on stage or leaving the stage, then secondly in my sleep. And the third way? You'll have to figure that out for yourself!

[malaise]

4. I'd love to die in my sleep

but the best alternative is actually dying when one is anesthetized.
I know two persons who died that way.

[pinboy3niner]

9. Your 3rd way is not so likely at 89

It's comforting to know that B.B. King died peacefully in his sleep.

[LakeVermilion]

32. Actually, those were B.B.'s words, not mine.

[840high]

57. ...

[Skidmore]

3. The thrill is gone...

Sleep gently.

[hobbit709]

5. R.I.P. Got to meet him a few times, a great human being.

[krawhitham]

6. RIP

[jamesatemple]

7. The article mentions his mentoring several musicians of note and "scores of guitarists".

As a former guitar store owner and teacher of guitar playing, I should like to opine that Riley B. King's influence is reflected in the guitar playing of millions of people worldwide. I know that I "cut my teeth" on it as did most of the guitarists of my era.

[Android3.14]

8. Makes me want to play a sad song

[gademocrat7]

10. RIP, Mr.King.

One of the best musicians ever.

[madamvlb]

11. RIP, BB.

I saw him at a small venue upstate NY many moons ago.

[octoberlib]

12. ...

[truebrit71]

13. Long live the King....

....

[WilliamPitt]

14. . . . . . . .

[marym625]

87. I posted this same one earlier on a different thread

You beat me to it here

My favorite

[TheKentuckian]

15. So sad I never saw him perform live

[fadedrose]

16. '56 was a big year for him

TV said he made more appearances, etc., that year....

also the year I graduated ... he was hot..still is, I think, and still will be...

[ColesCountyDem]

17. R.I.P.

[99Forever]

18. ...

A legend has passed.

[DawgHouse]

19. What a wonderful talent

RIP Mr. King.

[davidpdx]

20. RIP

A legend has left us

[Gothmog]

21. May he rest in peace

[daleanime]

22. ........

[RoccoR5955]

23. RIP n/t

[LWolf]

24. .

[blackspade]

25. RIP, Mr King.

[MohRokTah]

26. .

[polichick]

27. RIP B.B. - the music will never die.

[Tom Ripley]

28. RIP

[Catherine Vincent]

29. Rest in peace, sir

A true legend.

[stonecutter357]

30. .

[etherealtruth]

31. !

[bigwillq]

33. RIP BB

[Iggo]

34. B.B. King!!!

[mnhtnbb]

35. We saw him at a small venue in St. Joseph, MO 20 some years ago.

He spoke to me as he was walking through the bar area before he went on stage.
Really enjoyed seeing him perform in person.

[malaise]

66. Lucky You

[malthaussen]

36. Lucille is finally silent...

-- Mal

[sufrommich]

37. He left this planet the best way possible, after living

doing what you love and inspiring those around you. I wonder what happens to Lucille now?

[hifiguy]

74. The Smithsonian would be a fair bet.

Or the Rock & Roll HOF.

[1gobluedem]

90. Smithsonian, I hope

I think it belongs there.

[ismnotwasm]

38. Aww

I knew he was in hospice.

RIP

[IHateTheGOP]

39. I hope they bury his guitar Lucille with him

RIP BB

[ProfessorGAC]

45. There's WAY More Than One Lucille

He used to have about 5 for just the shows. His tech would always have one tuned and cleaned, and would change out guitars now and then so he always had one in tune.

They were set up exactly the same, and had the exact same electronics so they all sounded and played like he wanted them too.

Who knows how many more he had at his home.

So, i guess they could certainly bury one of them with him.

[Lifelong Protester]

69. Beat me to it!

I hope one of his Lucilles goes with him, too.

[kacekwl]

40. RIP BB

A the song goes, There's got to be a better place out there.

[schrodinger_I]

41. RIP, Mr. King

Your music was an inspiration!

[brush]

42. RIP, B.B.

I've been a fan forever and will miss you.

[I hate liars]

43. Never listened to him until I saw him perform live in the late 90s and was blown away...

I still recall my feeling of astonishment at the amazing blast of perfectly played melody and rhythm that he and his band produced in their opening piece. And the wonder that I'd never really paid much attention to his music, until then.

RIP, BB.

[sinkingfeeling]

44. RIP. We have lost a great musician.

[Rex]

46. A legend of legends...that is a big loss.

RIP Mr. King.

[panader0]

47. Thanks B.B.

Thanks....

[spanone]

48. :(

[malaise]

49. Here's Eric Clapton this morning -video at link

http://time.com/3860032/eric-clapton-bb-king/

Eric Clapton remembered his friend and colleague B.B. King in a video posted to Facebook Friday morning, saying he wanted to express his sadness.

“He was a beacon for all of us who love this kind of music,” Clapton said in the video below. “If you’re not familiar with his work, I would encourage you to go out and find an album called B.B. King Live at the Regal, which is where it all really started for me as a young player.”

[Bluenorthwest]

50. Lucille gently weeps.....

nt

[MarianJack]

92. You saaid what I was going to say!

PEACE!

[Tom_Foolery]

51. RIP...

[Dont call me Shirley]

52. B.B...

I am honored to have been graced by your presence and your music.

[Stellar]

53. Another legend, RIP Mr King. nt

[myrna minx]

54. Thank you for everything you gave to the world. Rest in peace.

[Kali]

55. awww

[calimary]

56. He'll always be a demigod around casa de calimary.

My kid the rock band front man loves BB King.

I had the pleasure of interviewing him when I was still working. There were several of us lined up waiting our turn in the waiting room that day. He arrived, and greeted each of us before the interviews started. He handed out this customary little souvenir - a little lapel pin of Lucille, his beloved Gibson guitar, with his name on it. He worked his way down the line of us. When he got to me he looked down at my unavoidable belly. I was HUGELY pregnant with what turned out to be my son. He smiled, his eyes twinkled, and nodded at my stomach and said "and YOU get TWO!" Michael still has his little pin, and treasures it (and I still have mine, too!). He loves it when I tell that story!

[Lochloosa]

67. Nice story calimary.

[malaise]

72. What a great story

[Hekate]

76. Awww

I got somthin' in my eye....

[calimary]

80. You and me both, sweetie.

[appalachiablue]

58. Legendary musician and giant. BB, so much joy you gave the world. RIP.

So glad I drove to DC to see him perform in concert when in college. The Thrill is Gone.

[Overseas]

60. RIP. Thanks for the wonderful music!

[angrychair]

61. My earliest childhood memories

are of B.B. King and Johnny Cash. Both men helped shape my understanding of what music should be. The influence of the King of the Blues cannot be understated. He lived his life in a way we should all aspire too. While he is no longer with us in body, B.B. King is a true immortal.

[niyad]

62. requiescat in pace, mr. king.

[OregonBlue]

63. Bummer. Still he did pretty well for an old guy with Diabetes. 89 is very respectable old age.

[niyad]

64. that it is, indeed.

[bravenak]

65. .

[lark]

68. Good bye BB, you will be sorely missed.

Your guitar legend will never die, it's kept alive by hundreds of people who taught themselves to play listening to your sweet licks on Lucille. Saw Guitar Slim Jr. at NOLA Jazz Fest. He talked about sitting at this daddy's knees, listening to dad and BB jamming, about how kind BB was, what a great mentor.

When I get home I'm going to put on the Clapton collaraboration cd and drink a glass of wine in BB's honor. I'll probably cry a bit too. Sad I won't get to see him anymore. Glad I got to see him 3 times and wish it had been lots more.

[world wide wally]

70. Why the blues get rid of your blues:

BB King sang:

Nobody loves me but my Mother
And she could be jivin' too

How do you not smile when you hear that?

[calimary]

79. Love it. Impossible not to smile when you hear that!

[nolabear]

71. K&R number 100. No words.

[hifiguy]

73. One of the true titans

and an inspiration to countless guitarists. The undisputed King of the Blues indeed.

Rest easy, Mr. King. You will be much missed and never forgotten.

[Hekate]

75. There'll be a great session in Heaven tonight. Thanks for all the music, BB King...

....let the good times roll.

[NOLALady]

77. Love the pictures of a youthful BB.

[malaise]

88. Lovely

Thanks

[Elwood P Dowd]

78. The Thrill Is Gone.

[Unknown Beatle]

81. Thanks for all the great blues music, Mr King.

The Thrill Remains - RIP

[Eleanors38]

82. Saw him in '72. Great musician, a pro. Concert now forming on-high.

[Omaha Steve]

83. K&R!

[lob1]

84. I'm 76 and I've listened to B.B. my entire life. Thanks, B.B.

[marym625]

85. K&R!

I was never lucky enough to see him live. He was supposed to be at Legends one night when my sister sang with Buddy Guy and Junior Wells but he didn't show.

I hope he really did go peacefully. He deserved that

[Liberal_in_LA]

89. rip

[olddots]

91. he was the king

thank you B.B.

[MissDeeds]

93. RIP, sir

And thanks for the memories.

[BumRushDaShow]

94. R.I.P. and long live the King and his lady

Lucille.

[turbinetree]

95. HE will be missed and will be

remembered as one of the most gracious, most passionate, honorable, caring man in this world and we cannot give him full justice to what he has done for all of us :
He will be sorely missed----------------Thank you, I first heard you in 1970------------I loved your music

[sheshe2]

96. ~

RIP