BB King is undisputedly one of the greatest Blues musicians that has ever lived. I got to meet and talk to him when he was promoting his album “Deuces Wild.” The release features covers of his hits, and he’s joined by the likes of D’Angelo, Van Morrison, Tracy Chapman, Eric Clapton, Mick Hucknall, Bonnie Raitt, Dr. John, Joe Cocker, Marty Stuart, the Rolling Stones, and Willie Nelson.
On May 15th of this year, I found out that Mr. King, passed on. A highlight of my musical career, was being in his presence, and seeing him perform. He even autographed my BB King baseball jacket, the day I spoke to him, about his duets CD. I went to his show later that night at New York’s Blue Note club in the village. It was amazing to watch him perform, moving his mouth in accordance with the sound, he made with “Lucille.”
Born in Mississippi on September 16, 1925, he died on Thursday, May 14th at his home in Las Vegas at the age of 89. Viewings for the Blues legend took place on May 22nd and 29th. A funeral procession was held on Wednesday, May 27th on Beale Street in Memphis, followed by services in Indianola, Mississippi on Saturday, May 30th. On the BB King website it read: “In lieu of flowers a gift can be made to the BB King Museum” at www.bbkingmuseum.org/donate.
In addition to talking about his new music, he told me the legendary tale, of how he came to name his guitar “Lucille.” This is that interview…
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for the love of BB King and The Blues
c-dub
