BB King, the King of Blues, dies at 89

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The thrill is gone....

Rest in peace Blues Boy.

He enlisted in the Army during World War II but was released because he drove a tractor, an essential homefront occupation.

In 1947, he hitchhiked to Memphis, Tennessee, home to a thriving music scene that supported aspiring black performers. He stayed with his cousin Bukka White, one of the most celebrated blues performers of his time, who schooled King further in the art of the blues.

King took the Beale Street Blues Boy, or BB for short, as a disc jockey for radio station WDIA/AM Memphis.

He got his first big break in 1948 by performing on Sonny Boy Williamson's radio program out of West Memphis, leading to steady engagements at the Sixteenth Avenue Grill in West Memphis, and a 10-minute spot on WDIA.

As "King's Spot" grew in popularity on WDIA, King shortened "Beale Street Blues Boy" to "Blues Boy King," and eventually B.B. King.


[link to www.cnn.com]

I had privilege of seeing him and going to his club in TN, like his style one of a kind really

In 1990, King was awarded the National Medal of Arts by President George H.W. Bush.[10] In 2006, he received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President George W. Bush.[11] He is widely regarded as one of the most influential blues guitarists of all time, inspiring countless other electric blues and blues rock guitarists.

[link to en.wikipedia.org]

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We are losing some very gifted people and not really seeing the next generation to replace them

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you late...

this was posted here this morning!

Thread: BREAKING: 'King of the Blues' legend B.B. King dead in Las Vegas at age 89, his attorney says. In his sleep at 9:40pm

Last Edited by Carimbo Hanky on 05/15/2015 11:01 AM

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RIP BB

He wasn't "The King of Blues," there were literally hundreds of better blues players.

I never liked his sound at all.

BB was the original blues guitarist inspiring many a more talented blues players. Saw him play with U2 at the National Stadium in Dublin, BB was brilliant..! He was one of those rare guitarist like Paul Kossoff who can make a guitar sing without words.
I hope God & the Angels put on a good blues Welcome Home party for him.. May he rest in peace..

.. so long & thanks for all those notes..