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* From the BBC…

The “King of the Blues”, guitarist and singer BB King, has died aged 89.

King, known for his hits My Lucille, Sweet Little Angel and Rock Me Baby, died in his sleep in Las Vegas.

Born in Mississippi, King began performing in the 1940s, going on to influence a generation of musicians and work with Eric Clapton and U2.

* The thrill is gone, baby…

posted by Rich Miller
Friday, May 15, 15 @ 7:40 am

Comments

Rest in Peace.

Comment by FormerParatrooper Friday, May 15, 15 @ 7:41 am
He could capture an audience, even one on the edge of revolt. Many years ago the Rolling Stones were going to play two concerts at the Assembly Hall in Champaign. One at 4 pm and the other at 8 pm. They were late, very, very late. I had ticket for the 4 pm show and by 7:30 when they still had not shown, the crowd was openly hostile with stomping of feet, chanting and the like. Finally around 8 pm BB came on as the opening act. Now I had never heard of him, nor cared back then for his type of music. But by the time his set was over the crowd was upbeat (including me) and no longer hostile. That was my first encounter with BB and left me wanting more over the years. He will be missed…

Comment by LINK Friday, May 15, 15 @ 7:54 am
This hit me like a freight train this morning. BB King was the greatest. In the same league as Hank Williams, Frank Sinatra, and Elvis Presley. It was like losing a family member this morning when I heard the news. I actually wept.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kmxEFXsVeYc

Comment by John A Logan Friday, May 15, 15 @ 7:58 am
Sad morning. Mrs. Mustache and I saw him perform at UIS about 10 years ago. He was a little slower, but still put on a tremendous show. Also, he told one of the funniest jokes I’ve ever heard. I can’t repeat it here but it involved his advanced age, the increasing amount of nurses he came into contact with in regards to his advancing age, and the simultaneous consumption of Levitra, Viagra, and Cialis…..

Comment by Lester Holt's Mustache Friday, May 15, 15 @ 8:02 am
I am looking forward to trying to get to the Chicago Blues Festival in June. I am sure there will be some tributes to Mr, King.

By the way fellow downstaters, you can get Chicago’s WXRT on the Internet and they have a blues show every Monday evening.

Comment by A Jack Friday, May 15, 15 @ 8:11 am
Every day I have the blues. Could be the Illinois state song. If you get the chance, visit the BB King museum in Indianola. It’s very good not only on his life and career, but on the music industry he came up in, and life in the South at that time.

Comment by Excessively Rabid Friday, May 15, 15 @ 8:11 am
Watched him play with Clapton, Jimmy Vaughn, and Buddy Guy at Clapton’s first Crossroads concert in Dallas. It was very clear they all liked each other, but BB was THE KING in that group. Simply a great player.

Comment by zatoichi Friday, May 15, 15 @ 8:13 am
Saw him perform years ago. His rendition of Someone Loves You was breathtaking (it turned my musical taste from an only hardcore punk to just about everything). I am sad to see so great a guitarist pass. He will be missed.

Comment by Arguenda Friday, May 15, 15 @ 8:13 am
It’s a great loss. I saw BB three times, and each time was spectacular. He had an awesome band. BB influenced so many musicians. Words can’t describe how important he was and is without using so many cliches, like he was an institution, which of course he was.

RIP, Legend.

Comment by Grandson of Man Friday, May 15, 15 @ 8:14 am
He gave us a guitar pick in New Orleans years ago. It will be in my pocket when I see him next time.

Comment by DE Friday, May 15, 15 @ 8:17 am
Nice tribute, Rich. RIP Mr. King, and thank you.

Comment by nc guy Friday, May 15, 15 @ 8:17 am
Simply a great musician as well as a bridge from a thankfully bygone era where the only experience of many Americans was share cropping, segregation, and lynching. B.B came very far from his own personal experience living that life and it’s immeasurable how much he contributed to a better society in his own ways.

Comment by Precinct Captain Friday, May 15, 15 @ 8:18 am
Not often that a musician remains as relavant as BB was even in his later years

RIP

Comment by Etown Friday, May 15, 15 @ 8:28 am
RIP BB. Riding with the King….

Comment by RLG Friday, May 15, 15 @ 8:29 am
I thought this BB King song, “I’m Moving On” a fitting tribute…

http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=bb+king+i’m+movin+on&FORM=VIRE1#view=detail&mid=6C81D61E246512B9A1686C81D61E246512B9A168

Comment by Skeptical Friday, May 15, 15 @ 8:29 am
RIP. The album he did with Eric Clapton in the early 2000s has always been one of my favorites. Such a rare talent.

Comment by Red Ranger Friday, May 15, 15 @ 8:30 am
I used to have “BB King Live in Cook County Jail” on vinyl but wore it out.

It was recorded in 1970 when he could really wail. You can find some of the tracks on YouTube.

Comment by Wordslinger Friday, May 15, 15 @ 8:31 am
I saw him play at the Kickapoo Creek Rock Festival outside of Heyworth, IL in May of 1970. He played at about 3am or so.

A friend and I were right in front of the stage during his concert. I could see and feel every note he played. And I could see the notes hanging there in the night air. He sounded so fantastic. And he loved what he was doing. The crowd got into him - and he got into the crowd. And we were able to go behind the stage after he finished playing, and my friend asked him for his autograph, but she asked him to sign it Lucille instead of BB King. He got such a kick out of that, but said he couldn’t do that, it wouldn’t be right.

A beautiful night out in the open air, listening to fantastic music, surrounded by thousands of like-minded friends in a similar state of too many libations. Away from work and school, and the VN war news and its effect that war had on so many people I knew, and also away from all of the other hassles of the era. What more could one ask for!

Comment by Joe M Friday, May 15, 15 @ 8:33 am
Now that is music
BB may be gone, but the thrill will never be gone except in the noggin’s of the negative nellies to cheer setback and defeat. Let’s hope today brings more A-1 filings so we can better understand the rental program. BTW did you know Wednesday was National Cocktail Day?

Comment by Anonin' Friday, May 15, 15 @ 8:38 am
Like Wordslinger I had Live at Cook Co, back in the days of vinyl. His music and his influence on other musicians will continue for a long time.

Comment by Bemused Friday, May 15, 15 @ 8:41 am
Saw the man three times, awed every time at his absolute command of the guitar. A masterful musician and showman, and - as others have said - he clearly loved what he was doing as much as his audiences loved it. Music has been blessed by the King of the Blues.

Comment by Linus Friday, May 15, 15 @ 8:41 am
You could throw a rock and hit a dozen or so people who really know music, and know music better than me, but B.B. King is one of those musicians you knew, you knew they were great, and that they were the standard for so many others.

To paraphrase Bono, in an interview talking about King, he said the only person who didn’t think King was an all time great was B.B. King.

Humble and gracious, King also, to paraphrase, said there were others who were as good or better, he was just better known.

We all throw “legend” around far too casually. In King’s case, it’s well-deserved and earned, and there are many he took along for the ride.

Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, May 15, 15 @ 8:46 am
A true legend in in his time…R.I.P.

Comment by Raunerbot Friday, May 15, 15 @ 8:46 am
I saw him play a couple of times, but 1988 at Urbana was the greatest concert I ever saw. It was as close to a religious experience at a concert I ever had. Dopey white college kid from the Chicago suburbs nodding his head trying to look cool suddenly got hit with 500,000 watts of blues power and I was dancing in the aisles. It reminded me of the John Belushi scene with James Brown from Blues Brothers.

Comment by Carhartt Representative Friday, May 15, 15 @ 8:49 am
Truly a sad day for music lovers of all ages. A legend is gone, but will never be forgotten. My condolences to all his family and friends. RIP, BB.

Comment by Big Joe Friday, May 15, 15 @ 8:52 am
Rotten way to start the day. RIP to a true musical giant

Comment by Former Merit Comp Slave Friday, May 15, 15 @ 8:54 am
And the man didn’t even know how to play a chord - he pulled more emotion out of a guitar string than anyone I can think of. Great showman, a true class act, and I have so many very fond memories of his shows. Rest in Peace.

Comment by Kodachrome Friday, May 15, 15 @ 8:54 am
He had a long and rich life, and left behind way more than he took from this world.

Comment by Six Degrees of Separation Friday, May 15, 15 @ 8:56 am
RIP BB. An American Legend and Icon. He was and still is the definition of the Delta Blues.

Comment by Give Me A Break Friday, May 15, 15 @ 8:56 am
Gonna miss you, BB. Thanks for all you gave to music and the world.

Comment by Corporate Thug Friday, May 15, 15 @ 8:59 am
I first saw him at Farm Aid. Van Halen played before him and Eddie Van Halen was played his notes fancy and fast. When BB came on he hit one note that hung in the air and said more than the entire Van Halen set.

Comment by Hatless Friday, May 15, 15 @ 9:17 am
His music will live on for many-many lifetimes. A true music legend and icon to so many. R.I.P. BB. The thrill may be gone, be it will never be forgotten.

Comment by BlameBruceRauner Friday, May 15, 15 @ 9:58 am
I had the incredible honor of standing onstage with him at Ravinia some years back. It was overwhelming. RIP

Comment by Soccermom Friday, May 15, 15 @ 10:11 am
A very, very sad day

Comment by Having the Blues Friday, May 15, 15 @ 10:35 am
Condolences to Lucille and all those who loved the King.

Comment by Amalia Friday, May 15, 15 @ 10:39 am
Rolling Stone magazine ranked him at No. 6 on its 2011 list of the 100 greatest guitarists of all time (previously ranked No. 3 in the 2003 edition of the same list)

Comment by Anonymous Friday, May 15, 15 @ 10:39 am
Sad day for sure. RIP BB.

Comment by Taxman Friday, May 15, 15 @ 11:22 am
Just seems appropriate today…RIP BB https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7dTOVOPcsRs

Comment by Herky Friday, May 15, 15 @ 12:47 pm
A master of an American art form.

I got turned on to BB after seeing his brother Albert in a 1969 concert in Boston.

His music and integrity will live on. RIP

Comment by Sir Reel Friday, May 15, 15 @ 1:39 pm