Farewell to A King…

 MR. RILEY ‘B.B.’ KING

09/16/1935  –  05/14/2015

 

My grandmother knew Mr. King because she knows one of his daughters and for years as a child I hoped that I could randomly run in to him not because he was a blues legend, rather because I had seen him on Sanford & Son…LOL. I had always heard his music but never labeled it anything other than the music I just heard on the radio or in the house. Wasn’t until I was an adult that I understood his legacy on a larger scale, yet every time the episode of Sanford & Son came on, I would be ecstatic. I adored him! Three years ago we drove through Indianola, MS and I was so thrilled (pun intended). I’ve always wanted my band to play Club Ebony (BB’s juke in MS) and always wanted t hear him play at home during his annual homecoming shows. Alas, I had to see him here in VA with his opener (Buddy Guy) and while some of his guitar skills had diminished, his voice was PRISTINE and I cried through the first song. I had been trying to see (and hear) him for near 40 years and finally it happened. His most famous quote that I have repeated to my band for year: upon being asked why he played so many shows per year he said “somebody may have never heard me play”! I heard you Mr. King! I finally HEARD you! This day isn’t a day for sadness (although I’m crushed that he may have just been the only old man from MS that didn’t hit on me), this is a day of JOY as he outlived many of his contemporaries, is probably the only bluesman who left this plane as a multimillionaire, and has brought the blues to millions through his club and radio station “Bluesville”. Part of black culture is to celebrate when someone passes and I intend to do that in his honor all weekend. He was unequivocally the King of the Blues and I am imagining the musical welcome he got when he got to heaven this morning was rip roaring! You can finally rest Mr. King, the world heard you!

KW