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Post subject: Wish I saw him then, but I'm glad I saw him now ...
Posted: Wed Apr 09, 2014 8:34 pm
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Mr. B. B. King. The legend

Saw him tonight for the first time. Voice sounded clear and bluesy but he's lost a few steps with Lucille. Didn't matter. He charmed the audience and played his heart out for us for an hour. The man is 88 years old and did 2 shows prior to tonight's in 2 different cities. Needed some help getting out of his chair at the end. His lead guitarist did most of the heavy lifting, and he had a great back up band. Although his body hinders him it can't stop the blues in him. I felt honored to see and hear him.

Funny thing, a week ago I was at the same venue, at that time to attend the Experience Hendrix tour. Aside from Buddy Guy, a ton of young guitar slingers playing for 3 hours. I was in awe. Even though Mr. King played only for an hour, and not at the technical level as last week, the vibe in the air was that we were in the presence of a legend. Thank you Mr. King for a memorable evening.

Also, before he came out Lucille was on a stand at center stage. The number of people going up just to photograph her was interesting. She's almost as famous as that guy who plays her.

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Post subject: Re: Wish I saw him then, but I'm glad I saw him now ...
Posted: Wed Apr 09, 2014 10:34 pm
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VERY COOL... !! 8) 8)

B.B. is a true Showman !!

Waaay back in '79, fresh out of the Navy, I was a lowly Restaurant Mgr. in a Holiday Inn Hotel (paying my way through my MBA). We closed after Lunch (±2 PM) for 4 hrs. until Dinner. During that time, I usually setup shop in a far booth to observe the staff and do my paperwork.

We were the closest hotel to Orchestra Hall, so many of the Players booked there would stay with us.

B.B. King was to appear, but I was too late to get Tix :(

Anyway, @ 2:15, B.B. appeared at our entrance wearing an Ice Cream White Double-Breasted suit, accompanied by his Band/Entourage.

I went to our entrance, a closed gate, opened it and B.B. said: "Can we get Lunch..??"

I said:" Absolutely Mr. King!!... come right in..."

He said: "How you know my name..??"

I replied: " Everybody knows the Blues Boy.. !! "

B.B. rolled his head back and shouted: " Owwwww...!!!"

I got everyone to their tables, had a waiter come over, and took their orders.

He asked me:" Are you coming to the Show tonight..??"

"No" I said... "I was too late to get Tix..."

He replied: "Well... you got 'em now !!..."

2 Backstage Passes... the show was terrific... and we got to go to the after-party !

Got to meet him again last year at Jazzfest in New Orleans, and he remembered me from 33 years before saying: " You're the guy who gave us lunch right..?? " Mrs. LMN was thrilled!!

Yea... he's lost a step or two through the years. But I suspect they'll have to pry 'Lucille' from his hands on his Deathbed.

They just ain't makin' em like that anymore !!

cheers!

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Post subject: Re: Wish I saw him then, but I'm glad I saw him now ...
Posted: Wed Apr 09, 2014 11:35 pm
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I'm glad for you jmr986. :D I saw B.B.King in 1969 at Ravinia in Highland Park, Illinois. He was a youngster then with a monster band. When you see him live you understand how he influenced so many great guitarists.

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Post subject: Re: Wish I saw him then, but I'm glad I saw him now ...
Posted: Thu Apr 10, 2014 12:15 am
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Solid Body Love Songs wrote:
I'm glad for you jmr986. :D I saw B.B.King in 1969 at Ravinia in Highland Park, Illinois. He was a youngster then with a monster band. When you see him live you understand how he influenced so many great guitarists.


Really Cool !! 8)

I managed the Harrison Conference Center on Greenbay Rd. in Lake Bluff in the mid-80's, and every year we hosted our main clients (Fortune 100 Cos.) to a night at Ravinia Fest !!

We'd provide each of our customers w/ a Tour Bus, tix and gourmet picnic baskets to the shows there... amazing venue w/ some incredible acts !!

There aren't many better venues for Live music anywhere in the country !!

cheers!

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Post subject: Re: Wish I saw him then, but I'm glad I saw him now ...
Posted: Thu Apr 10, 2014 12:49 am
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The North Shore is a wonderful area, the only other act I remember seeing at Ravinia is Pat Benatar. Some people go there just to picnic I think lol. :lol:

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Post subject: Re: Wish I saw him then, but I'm glad I saw him now ...
Posted: Thu Apr 10, 2014 6:10 am
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I saw BB King at the Houston "Jazz" Festival in '78 or '79 in the Astrodome. Rose Royce and Marvin Gaye were also there. I don't recall any jazz acts being there. :P

BB's band came on and started playing and the folks got quite. BB walked on stage to loud applause. He hit the first note on Lucille and the place erupted. When he sang his first note the crowd got so loud it rattled my ears. You'd thought Dan Pastorini just hit Ken Borrough for the winning TD against the Steelers.

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Post subject: Re: Wish I saw him then, but I'm glad I saw him now ...
Posted: Thu Apr 10, 2014 6:17 am
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I had another experience. It must have been 1970 when he was the opening act for the Rolling Stones at Colorado State University. It was the Stones first stop on their tour to the US after being absent for a couple of years. No one wanted to listen to B.B. for long anticipating the Stones.


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Post subject: Re: Wish I saw him then, but I'm glad I saw him now ...
Posted: Thu Apr 10, 2014 7:47 am
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I saw B.B. in '67 at the Cleveland Jazz Fest. I can still remember the show because it was that good. He's a gentleman and deserves all of the accolades he gets.
At the same show was a keyboard player who impressed me enough to buy his album. Ten years later and 3000 miles away he was married to my new wife's best friend. The world can be a small place.

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Post subject: Re: Wish I saw him then, but I'm glad I saw him now ...
Posted: Thu Apr 10, 2014 9:09 am
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BB King yes a great one too bad his diabetes has a hold on him so he has to sit any more when he plays out, hell I sit most of the time I play ( I do not play out though ) I have seen him many times and for 88 the guy still give it his all
Couple of weekends ago I saw that experience Hendrix show http://forums.fender.com/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=93177 this is my post of it and I loved every note played that night
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Post subject: Re: Wish I saw him then, but I'm glad I saw him now ...
Posted: Thu Apr 10, 2014 1:53 pm
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I took the Armadillo 'Tween to see Mr. King about two years ago.

I had seen him three or four times previously--the earliest (and best) show being in 1990/1 (memory fails me here). At that time he was still standing and mobile, and put on a heck of a show (Bobby Blue Bland and Millie Jackson opened for him).

I saw him a couple of more times over the years, and each time I was shocked and saddened by his physical decline (although he still sang and played well).

I took Lady Armadillo to see him in 1999, and she was extremely shocked--she had only seen older photos and films of him and hadn't "aged" him in her mind.

I'm glad I took Armadillo 'Tween to see him (she was thrilled, and she got some personal attention and a "BB KING, KING OF THE BLUES TOUR 2012" necklace handed to her at His direction), but the entire time I almost cried. He seemed lost more than a few times, and the show did not compare to the earlier/earliest performances I had seen.

I've read some scathing and nasty reviews recently, and it makes me mad. The fact that he is even with us is a miracle, and when he "finds it" (like he did toward the middle of the 2012 show), he rocks. I think many of the attendees expect the same type of show from thirty years ago (physically impossible) and have never seen a true "chitlin circuit" type of blues show (for a good example, check some of Bobby Rush's shows or any show from RL Griffin's Blues Palace)...this type of concert has quite a bit of talking and goofing off between songs (unlike a more white-oriented blues show like Jimmie Vaughan or Kim Wilson).

I'm glad I saw him when I saw him--every time--and I'm glad the Armadillo 'Tween saw him, but it still hurts to see such a vital person petering out.

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Post subject: Re: Wish I saw him then, but I'm glad I saw him now ...
Posted: Thu Apr 10, 2014 2:05 pm
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Did anybody see this article from the other day? http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/ ... louis-show

I didn't watch the video (I probably won't, either) but I thought this was messed up that he'd receive this kind of reaction. I wonder what's going on with him?

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Post subject: Re: Wish I saw him then, but I'm glad I saw him now ...
Posted: Thu Apr 10, 2014 2:31 pm
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CPL wrote:
Did anybody see this article from the other day? http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/ ... louis-show

I didn't watch the video (I probably won't, either) but I thought this was messed up that he'd receive this kind of reaction. I wonder what's going on with him?

That's kind of sad to read. To a certain extent I agree that others should take some initiative and figure out a way to keep the show on track while working with what B.B. still has to offer. No reason to let him flounder on stage with no help. Sounds like a manager that's just milking the last few checks he can get.

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Post subject: Re: Wish I saw him then, but I'm glad I saw him now ...
Posted: Thu Apr 10, 2014 2:42 pm
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Yeah, maybe the tour schedule is getting too much for him, but there is other people that want to keep pushing him harder to make money from it. I just hope he's not losing his mental faculties. That would be really sad to see that happen to him.

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Post subject: Re: Wish I saw him then, but I'm glad I saw him now ...
Posted: Fri Apr 11, 2014 2:21 am
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I had a chance to see Mr King 2-3 years ago in Newport RI. Every year I volunteer as a driver to drive VIP's and ATP players for the Newport Hall of Fame Campbell's ATP Tennis Tournament...
I had free tickets, but after driving to Green Airport and back to Newport all day, by 8:00pm I was exhausted and still had an hour's drive to get home....
I regret not going but It just wasn't possible to listen to any loud music at that point... :cry:

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Post subject: Re: Wish I saw him then, but I'm glad I saw him now ...
Posted: Fri Apr 11, 2014 6:01 am
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I live in St. Louis and was listening to a local show last night that mentioned his recent show here and the poor reviews. The great musician is 88, perhaps too old for what's expected of him. But, I'm sure many people are depending on their income from his performances so he feels the pressure, and that's probably why he still tours. I live within walking distance where Chuck Berry plays most every week. He's past prime too, what can you expect? I'm 68 and can no longer play tennis, ski, run, or practice guitar for more than 10 minutes before my hands cramp. I am amazed they can do what they can still do. Aging performers are not getting what they deserve, and the people that pay $100 for a ticket aren't either.


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