Long live his music.
Blues legend B.B. King dies at age 89 in Las Vegas CNN - May 15, 2015
Riley B. King, the legendary guitarist known as B.B. King, whose velvety voice and staccato-picking style brought blues from the margins to the mainstream, died Thursday night. He was 89. The Mississippi native's reign as "king of the blues" lasted more than six decades and straddled two centuries, influencing a generation of rock and blues musicians, from Eric Clapton and Stevie Ray Vaughan, to Sheryl Crow and John Mayer. According to Edward M. Komara, King "introduced a sophisticated style of soloing based on fluid string bending and shimmering vibrato that would influence virtually every electric blues guitarist that followed."
When I was married, Ralph and I visited some of the blues clubs around the city. One of the most memorable performers was B.B. King. The music just lifted you from this reality. B.B. stands for Blues Boy.
B.B. King was an American blues singer, songwriter, and guitarist. He is considered one of the most influential blues musicians of all time, earning the nickname "The King of Blues", and one of the "Three Kings of the Blues Guitar" (along with Albert King and Freddie King). According to Edward M. Komara, King "introduced a sophisticated style of soloing based on fluid string bending and shimmering vibrato that would influence virtually every electric blues guitarist that followed."
King was also known for performing tirelessly throughout his musical career, appearing at more than 200 concerts per year on average into his 70s.
In 1956, he reportedly made 342 appearances.
King was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1987.
In 1990, King was awarded the National Medal of Arts by President George H.W. Bush.
In 2006, he received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President George W. Bush.
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), and he was ranked No. 17 in Gibson's "Top 50 Guitarists of All Time".
King was also inducted into 2014 class of the R&B Music Hall of Fame.
Two finales were amazing Thursday night - The Blacklist and Scandal. I knew that Red and Lizzie would go off to work as a team next season. At last the truth was revealed. Lizzie's mom is probably alive and Tom is off on his boat ... storylines to be continued in September. I generally only watch the series finale of Scandal - this May old storylines finishing with many more to follow. Down with the bad guys. Monday night is the finale of NCIS LA. Will Callen find out who his father is, as if we don't already know ... it's off to Russia for the answers.
Watch Blacklist
In other sports ...
Saturday is the 140th running of the Preakness Stakes at Pimlico Race Track in Baltimore.
I'm betting on American Pharaoh again and then there's Mr. Z in this 8 horse race.
In the energies of Mercury Retrograde (repetitions and delays) - American Pharaoh should win again.
New Moon 27° Taurus
