BB King surpassed the merits of mere popularity and musical talents.
With a career start in the 1940s, King wasn’t a legend when he appeared in Toyota Camry commercials. He wasn’t even a cross-cultural, cross-generational role model when he famously appeared on The Cosby Show during its historic television run. He was unarguably a great deal more.
BB King was a fixture in American culture.
A monument of excellence, King was rooted as deeply into the fabric of our country as the Statue of Liberty. When you heard him, you knew that was BB King. There was no one else it could be. And when you saw him, you had to get closer.
He’d invite you in, too, with no other prerequisites but love. A monument of diversity, King played to massive audiences of all ethnicities. His blues was their blues, and stars spangled to his warm, good-natured fabric.
Born Riley B. King in 1925 Mississippi, the National Medal of Arts and Presidential Medal of Freedom recipient passed in his sleep May 14, 2015.
Often referred to as the most influential and/or greatest blues musician of all-time, the Blues Hall of Fame and Rock & Roll Hall of Fame entertainer didn’t collect his extensive list of accomplishments and accolades alone.
King had help from his equally legendary guitar, Lucille.
The stringed instrument seemed to sing along when King played her. She wailed with a soul-stirring signature twang as recognizable as King’s chill-inducing gruff-voiced moans. Every one of King’s many heartfelt favorites and hits – a list that includes “The Thrill Is Gone”, “Sweet Black Angel” and “Rock Me Baby” – were basically duets.
With Lucille in hands, King ranks #6 on Rolling Stone Magazine’s prestigious list of “100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time”. He recorded more than 50 albums.
During Black History Month or any other time of year, the chances of BB King being forgotten hinge firmly on zero percent.
The “King of Blues” will always reign. |THIS.
[By Mr. Joe Walker]
