OT: RIP BB King

[pk500]

The Thrill is sadly gone, and Lucille is lonely. RIP, BB. An American treasure. Saw him live in 1996 -- great show.

[RobVarak]

The Thrill is sadly gone, and Lucille is lonely. RIP, BB. An American treasure. Saw him live in 1996 -- great show.

This one hurts. I saw him live over a dozen times. Between 1988 and about 2012 I almost never missed him when he was in town. I saw him in bars, arenas, theaters, halls and parks. He brought the goods ever night. Even in later years when his health failed him, he worked as hard as a man 1/3 his age on stage.

He became so ubiquitous that I think his talent was often taken for granted. Beyond his brilliance as a player and singer, he had that rare ability to connect with an audience with seemingly no effort whatsoever. From the chitlin' circuit to the upscale Regal audiences to white college kids, everyone was smitten by BB the moment he strolled onto the stage in front of his brassy, vamping, impossibly cool band.

Moreover, he was in show business for seven decades and it's outright impossible to find anyone to say a cross word about the man. He was a generous and genuine mentor to younger players, a gregarious raconteur and a tireless, shameless booster for the blues and his beloved Mississippi.

This tune, featuring no guitar leads and far from a blues, always best captured the essence of the man. He was unabashedly in love with music, entertaining and his audiences.

[10spro]

RIP BB, indeed 'the thrill is gone' one of my favorites from Mr King. A true legend of the Blues.

[Jimmydeicide]

So sad. RIP legend.

[Teal]

I have a cousin that plays in one of BB's clubs in Nashville. He's devastated. BB made it a point to meet all of the talent that represented his place, if he could. Just an awesome man...and musician.

[XXXIV]

A legend who was a LEGEND.

RIP BB King.