Tribute to B.B. King

(RILEY) B.B. KING (1926-2015)

BB passed away peacefully in his sleep in his home in Las Vegas. A history of this great singer and guitar player can better be found on the internet.

I have but three comments;

1. His first job was as a sharecropper’s son picking cotton. After the owner had taken out his expenses, young Riley found that he still owed ‘the man’ $7! (I’ve had jobs like that. Haven’t you? Even a jazz muso makes more than that!)
2. About a decade ago I saw a doco in which John Lee Hooker was chatting with B.B. about the relative merits of a Cadillac against a Mercedes. It was obvious that both saw the humour.
3. Eric Clapton, in his on-line eulogy, mentioned ‘Live at the Regal’ (1965) as the ‘go-to’ album that got Clapton inspired and excited. I heartily agree.

FreedomJazzDance will devote the first hour of the 23^rd May show as a tribute.

© Peter Smetana

© Peter Smetana