Wednesday, June 10, 2015

B.B. King, R.I.P.

The Blues is a genre of music which issued from the
southern United States, in predominately black
communities soon after the Civil War. It is a uniquely
American genre of music, and B.B. King was its 
modern-day ambassador, interpreter, and indeed,
king. The king is dead, long live his legacy.
B.B. King passed away on May 14 after several 
several years of declining health at the age of 89.

Named to the American Hall of Fame and to the 
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, King had made fans
and friends the world over in his long and storied
career. He was given the nickname "The King of the 
Blues", and he traveled widely, performing often
through the years. King made an average of 200 
concert appearances each year going into his 70s,
slowing down only a few years ago when his 
health started to slide. In 1956, King was
reported to have made 342 such appearances
alone. 

In 1990, King was awarded the National Medal 
of Arts by President George H.W. Bush. He is 
regarded by many as one of the most influential
blues guitarists of all time, playing his beloved 
guitar Lucille in concert and in the recording studio,
inspiring many electric blues and blues rock 
guitarists over the years as he went. B.B. King
was certainly a great favorite with your appreciative
Peasant. I miss him greatly, as do the many fans of
blues music throughout the world. 

B.B. King was truly an American master. Rest in
peace, your musical majesty.


MEM


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