BB King
BB King (vocals, guitar); James Bolden (musical director, trumpet); Stanley Abernathy (trumpet); Melvin Jackson, Walter King (sax); Charlie Dennis (guitar); Ernest Vantrease (piano, keyboards); Reggie Richards (bass); Tony Coleman (drums, percussion).
BB King (US)
At first glance, BB King may seem somewhat indecisive. For
instance, he announced that he would never again perform live, only
to be convinced later to go on a world tour. Whatever the case,
this giant from Indianola, Mississippi, is a pioneer of the blues
and in a class of his own. With his guitar, which he has named
Lucille, he has created countless classics. In 1988, he recorded
the song When Love Comes to Town with the pop band U2 and he now
has a following among a younger generation of fans. In 2000, his
duo album Riding with the King, recorded with close friend and fan
Eric Clapton, became a huge hit.
BB King recorded his first album in 1949 and 60 years later he is
still going strong. According to the critics, his most recent album
One Kind Favor, released last year, is his best work in years. BB
King's voice is still deep and dark with a catch in it and his
guitar solos are recognizable among thousands. Recently, a museum
in his birthplace was dedicated to this living blues legend. The
museum not only pays tribute to the man but to the whole genre as
well. BB King is the blues personified.