R I P BB.

RIP.."How Blue Can You Get"

"Now that it's all over ... all I can do is wish you well."

Only 5:45 AM and I can tell this is going to be one of the saddest days of my life.

I've attended several shows over the past 5 years - mainly out of reverence for the "King". Been a fan since I heard the first notes - didn't understand why the music made me feel the way it did.
BB King has probably had more influence over guitar players and guitar playing than ANYONE. His influences are up there with Chet Atkins (although quite different in style).

Tell St. Peter to put that gold harp in the closet tonight. There's a new act coming to town.

God bless BB King.

If I said to any non music fan that I feel so sad right now that it will be a struggle to get through this work day, not be mention a family wedding tomorrow, they would have no idea what I am talking about.

I know that you all understand.

Damn. I have the blues real bad right now ...:(

RIP BB King

The long road is over and you can rest now...

God rest his soul. Saw him many, many times and although in his later years he wasn't in his prime of course, he was still a joy to watch.
🙁

B.B. playing the blues could make you very happy. i met him twice and he was very generous to his fans….take it home B.B., thanks for all the joy….

RIP to BB.

He was a musical part of my life since I was a young teenager.His was the first guitar notes I tried to play when I got my first guitar.I'd spend hours listening to B.B. and Bobby Bland....and the many incredible concerts.

thanks for the music BB King R.I.P

the blues won't be the same

First thing I saw this morning on the news site. Sad but not shocking. 🙁 BB lived a heck of a life and made for lots of good times. Plugging in today for sure.

Rest well BB.

Loss of a legend.

a life spent,
out on the road
til the end...

hangin' stars
with a hammer and wire,
mere mortals
in his audience.

BB's "See That My Grave's Kept Clean"

I've met some great people in my life, and I've met people who where great. B B was both.
Ride in peace, MR King.

No one will wonder why I have the blues today... 🙁

"Why I Sing The Blues"

Everybody wants to know
Why I sing the blues
Yes, I say everybody wanna know
Why I sing the blues
Well, I've been around a long time
I really have paid my dues

When I first got the blues
They brought me over on a ship
Men were standing over me
And a lot more with a whip
And everybody wanna know
Why I sing the blues
Well, I've been around a long time
Mm, I've really paid my dues

I've laid in a ghetto flat
Cold and numb
I heard the rats tell the bedbugs
To give the roaches some
Everybody wanna know
Why I'm singing the blues
Yes, I've been around a long time
People, I've paid my dues

I stood in line
Down at the County Hall
I heard a man say, "We're gonna build
Some new apartments for y'all"
And everybody wanna know
Yes, they wanna know
Why I'm singing the blues
Yes, I've been around a long, long time
Yes, I've really, really paid my dues

Now I'm gonna play Lucille.

My kid's gonna grow up
Gonna grow up to be a fool
'Cause they ain't got no more room
No more room for him in school
And everybody wanna know
Everybody wanna know
Why I'm singing the blues
I say I've been around a long time
Yes, I've really paid some dues

Yeah, you know the company told me
Guess you're born to lose
Everybody around me, people
It seems like everybody got the blues
But I had 'em a long time
I've really, really paid my dues
You know I ain't ashamed of it, people
I just love to sing my blues

I walk through the cities, people
On my bare feet
I had a fill of catfish and chitterlings
Up in Downbill Street
You know I'm singing the blues
Yes, I really
I just have to sing my blues
I've been around a long time
People, I've really, really paid my dues

Now Father Time is catching up with me
Gone is my youth
I look in the mirror everyday
And let it tell me the truth
I'm singing the blues
Mm, I just have to sing the blues
I've been around a long time
Yes, yes, I've really paid some dues

Yeah, they told me everything
Would be better out in the country
Everything was fine
I caught me a bus uptown, baby
And every people, all the people
Got the same trouble as mine
I got the blues, huh huh
I say I've been around a long time
I've really paid some dues

One more time, fellows!

Blind man on the corner
Begging for a dime
The rollers come and caught him
And throw him in the jail for a crime
I got the blues
Mm, I'm singing my blues
I've been around a long time
Mm, I've really paid some dues

Can we do just one more?

Oh I thought I'd go down to the welfare
To get myself some grits and stuff
But a lady stand up and she said
"You haven't been around long enough"
That's why I got the blues
Mm, the blues
I say, I've been around a long time
I've really, really paid my dues

RIP B.B. King! One of Mike Bloomfield's greatest influences!

From Buddy Guy:
This morning, I come to you all with a heavy heart.
BB King was the greatest guy I ever met. The tone he got out of that guitar, the way he shook his left wrist, the way he squeezed the strings... man, he came out with that and it was all new to the whole guitar playin' world. He could play so smooth, he didn't have to put on a show. The way BB did it is the way we all do it now. He was my best friend and father to us all.
I'll miss you, B. I love you and I promise I will keep these damn Blues alive. Rest well.
All my love,
Buddy

[Edited on 5/15/2015 by pixielf]

I damn sure have the blues today. I believe I will drink a little wine today. RIP B.B. We all loved you.

EC say goodbye in a short video in the AJ.
http://www.ajc.com/news/entertainment/music/eric-clapton-delivers-emotional-tribute-bb-king/nmG8T/

RIP BB The King is riding with the King.

Just learned of BB's death about an hour ago. BB had a long life. He left a legacy for many to follow. I know that Gregg must feel pretty devastated now. I remember the story about when Duane and Gregg was at their first concert and BB was there and how it influenced them. Imagine how Duane must be feelilng if he were still alive today.

you only live but once and when you're dead you're done, LET THE GOOD TIMES ROLL.

Not unexpected but very painful....BB gave more to modern music than most people will ever realize....he influenced so many people and not just guitar players....

RIP Riley BB King....His name will live on forever like Bach, Miles Davis, John Coltrane

so sad...prayers to BB and his family

Sad news, indeed.

I just saw Tinsley Ellis play a show last night, and he told a story about B.B. King playing a show for teens which he attended as a teen, and how B.B. stayed after the show to meet the kids and chat/pose for pictures/sign autographs for "what seemed like a couple of hours" and how unbelievably kind and gracious he was. He also said that, as a young musician, "everything sort of fell into place for me after that."

I got to see B.B. a couple of times, and although I never got the chance to meet him, I got the impression that he was a class act both on and off the stage.

R.I.P.

Lift your glasses to the King of the Blues. There will never be another one like him...

[Edited on 5/15/2015 by stevechild]

The Sky Is Crying.

R.I.P. to the King

Not unexpected but very painful....BB gave more to modern music than most people will ever realize....he influenced so many people and not just guitar players....

RIP Riley BB King....His name will live on forever like Bach, Miles Davis, John Coltrane

so sad...prayers to BB and his family

That's a great summation, Goldtop.

I was thinking that baring those classical guys (Segovia, Parkening et al), I don't think there's a player worth his/her own salt who doesn't have some BB King in them somewhere. Either you were influenced directly or you were influenced by somebody who was influenced by him (or by somebody who was influenced by somebody ... who was influenced by BB).

His influence on the popularity of the blues likely kept several of the original masters with roofs over their heads and food on their plates.

In another thread I pondered whether the Allman Brother's Band might ever have formed - or taken the path it did without the profound influence of BB King.

Long live the music and memory of BB King! There will never be another one like him!

so glad i got to catch him at Claptons guitar festival in NYC last year. BB, Eric, Buddy Guy and a I forgot the fourth playing together. Unforgettable for me!!!

I don't think there's a player worth his/her own salt who doesn't have some BB King in them somewhere. Either you were influenced directly or you were influenced by somebody who was influenced by him (or by somebody who was influenced by somebody ... who was influenced by BB).

This 10 year is proof of that statement...

In another thread I pondered whether the Allman Brother's Band might ever have formed - or taken the path it did without the profound influence of BB King.

Would have to say that is true because of Gregg & Duane doing this.

Two Kings: B.B. and Carole

And here's a young DT playing a guitar he had recently got BB to sign.