The Thrill Is Gone: King of the Blues B.B King has passed away
buzzz worthy. . .
The man who gave us blues, blues, and nuthin' but the blues for over six decades has passed away.
Mississippi born, Riley B. King, known as blues titan B.B. King, a name synonymous with the genre, died peacefully while sleeping in his Las Vegas home on Thursday night. His attorney, Brent Bryson confirmed his death. King was 89.
On Facebook, Claudette King, the daughter of the legendary blues man left a simple statement on behalf of their family acknowledging his passing:
"It is with great sadness that we relay on that Blues legend BB King has died in Las Vegas at the age of 89.
The Family thanks you in advance for your condolences during this very delicate time and asks that all respect their privacy.
Please remember him in your heart."
~Claudette "The Bluz Queen" King
In a way, fans are mourning two losses today--King, the master of a signature one note ripping style of playing, and Lucille -- a "talking" guitar.
A member of both the Blues Hall of Fame and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Mr. King will be best remembered for a style of guitar plucking that gave his "Lucille" (originally a Gibson acoustic guitar), her own voice and him a place among the "music gods." Their inseparable music marriage lasted over 60 years.
Lucille was named after a woman two men fought over in an Arkansas bar that caught on fire during the ruckus. As the oft told story goes, two people died that night, but his guitar, for which he'd paid only $30 at the time, was found the following day having survived through the ashes. King started playing electric guitar shortly thereafter and switched guitars over the years, but kept the spirit of Lucille alive by keeping the same name, sound and story.
The way King wrapped Lucille in the cradle of his arm as he played was just one sign of a special connection he felt toward the instrument. In his concerts he told stories of how Lucille saved his life on many different occasions. The distant look in his eyes and facial contortions when his vibrating fingers massaged electric coos, squalls and lusty vibrations out of her were other signs.
"I'm very crazy about Lucille," said King during a performance of the song by the same name. "Lucille took me from the plantation. Or you might say, brought me fame."
An extension of his emotions, he said Lucile sometimes spoke for him.
Like his playing, King was also respected for his blistered vocals, that were equally embraced from the deep country South to Chicago where his blues also took root. Before becoming a famed blues singer/songwriter King once said he wanted to sing gospel (or "spirituals.") It was in the U.S. Army he dropped spirituals and started singing the blues, but traces of the church remained through the rumbling, grumbling and spiritual babble he afixed to the ends of phrases.
B.B. and Lucille were like a couple that never seemed to quarrel. For King, Lucille represented more than part of an act. She was the personification of an ever-faithful female companion who eased his aching heart.
In classic tunes such as "The Thrill Is Gone" and "The Blues is Alright," King would sing and wail, then Lucille would respond in total agreement, touching the souls of listeners around the world. In many recordings Lucille started the conversation, seeming to allow the artist to release his deepest hang-ups whether about love, lust of life. His perpetual sidekick, the guitar was always designed with a sleek black finish and gold accents. Together they accumulated copious high honors, winning the first of 15 Grammy Awards for the "The Thrill is Gone" in 1970.
Eric Clapton and various other artists called King an inspiration in their careers.
Clapton, who recorded the album "Riding with the King" with the late artist, lamented this great loss to the world of blues music with a 1:08-long video on Facebook:
"I just want to express my sadness and to say thank you to my dear friend B. B. King. . .
In a few words Clapton recognized the significance of the passing of an icon who contributed his life to sharing a breed of music that is also dying.
"There's not much to say because there are not a lot left to play it in the pure way B.B. did." Clapton recommends those who are not familiar with "The King's" music purchase the album "B.B. King Live at the Regal," which was his introduction to King's music and music aficionados consider as one of the best live recordings ever done.
While no specific details about the official cause of Mr. King's death were released it has been widely reported that he was in poor health.
On May 1 King announced to fans he was under hospice care in his Las Vegas home on Facebook, following news that he had been rushed to the hospital multiple times in April.
King suffered from diabetes and appeared in commercials for the American Diabetes Association over the years.
The illness sometimes interfered with his ability to perform like the blues master he was. Just last year there were signs that diabetes was taking a toll on his health as he apologized to fans in St. Louis for a poor performance. His rep later told TMZ King had forgotten to take his diabetes meds that day.
Funeral details will be posted when they become available.
The man who gave us blues, blues, and nuthin' but the blues for over six decades has passed away.
Mississippi born, Riley B. King, known as blues titan B.B. King, a name synonymous with the genre, died peacefully while sleeping in his Las Vegas home on Thursday night. His attorney, Brent Bryson confirmed his death. King was 89.
On Facebook, Claudette King, the daughter of the legendary blues man left a simple statement on behalf of their family acknowledging his passing:
"It is with great sadness that we relay on that Blues legend BB King has died in Las Vegas at the age of 89.
The Family thanks you in advance for your condolences during this very delicate time and asks that all respect their privacy.
Please remember him in your heart."
~Claudette "The Bluz Queen" King
In a way, fans are mourning two losses today--King, the master of a signature one note ripping style of playing, and Lucille -- a "talking" guitar.
A member of both the Blues Hall of Fame and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Mr. King will be best remembered for a style of guitar plucking that gave his "Lucille" (originally a Gibson acoustic guitar), her own voice and him a place among the "music gods." Their inseparable music marriage lasted over 60 years.
Lucille was named after a woman two men fought over in an Arkansas bar that caught on fire during the ruckus. As the oft told story goes, two people died that night, but his guitar, for which he'd paid only $30 at the time, was found the following day having survived through the ashes. King started playing electric guitar shortly thereafter and switched guitars over the years, but kept the spirit of Lucille alive by keeping the same name, sound and story.
The way King wrapped Lucille in the cradle of his arm as he played was just one sign of a special connection he felt toward the instrument. In his concerts he told stories of how Lucille saved his life on many different occasions. The distant look in his eyes and facial contortions when his vibrating fingers massaged electric coos, squalls and lusty vibrations out of her were other signs.
"I'm very crazy about Lucille," said King during a performance of the song by the same name. "Lucille took me from the plantation. Or you might say, brought me fame."
An extension of his emotions, he said Lucile sometimes spoke for him.
Like his playing, King was also respected for his blistered vocals, that were equally embraced from the deep country South to Chicago where his blues also took root. Before becoming a famed blues singer/songwriter King once said he wanted to sing gospel (or "spirituals.") It was in the U.S. Army he dropped spirituals and started singing the blues, but traces of the church remained through the rumbling, grumbling and spiritual babble he afixed to the ends of phrases.
B.B. and Lucille were like a couple that never seemed to quarrel. For King, Lucille represented more than part of an act. She was the personification of an ever-faithful female companion who eased his aching heart.
In classic tunes such as "The Thrill Is Gone" and "The Blues is Alright," King would sing and wail, then Lucille would respond in total agreement, touching the souls of listeners around the world. In many recordings Lucille started the conversation, seeming to allow the artist to release his deepest hang-ups whether about love, lust of life. His perpetual sidekick, the guitar was always designed with a sleek black finish and gold accents. Together they accumulated copious high honors, winning the first of 15 Grammy Awards for the "The Thrill is Gone" in 1970.
Eric Clapton and various other artists called King an inspiration in their careers.
Clapton, who recorded the album "Riding with the King" with the late artist, lamented this great loss to the world of blues music with a 1:08-long video on Facebook:
"I just want to express my sadness and to say thank you to my dear friend B. B. King. . .
In a few words Clapton recognized the significance of the passing of an icon who contributed his life to sharing a breed of music that is also dying.
"There's not much to say because there are not a lot left to play it in the pure way B.B. did." Clapton recommends those who are not familiar with "The King's" music purchase the album "B.B. King Live at the Regal," which was his introduction to King's music and music aficionados consider as one of the best live recordings ever done.
While no specific details about the official cause of Mr. King's death were released it has been widely reported that he was in poor health.
On May 1 King announced to fans he was under hospice care in his Las Vegas home on Facebook, following news that he had been rushed to the hospital multiple times in April.
King suffered from diabetes and appeared in commercials for the American Diabetes Association over the years.
The illness sometimes interfered with his ability to perform like the blues master he was. Just last year there were signs that diabetes was taking a toll on his health as he apologized to fans in St. Louis for a poor performance. His rep later told TMZ King had forgotten to take his diabetes meds that day.
Funeral details will be posted when they become available.
