The Thrill Is Gone – Legendary blues guitarist and singer B.B. King dies age 89
Friday, May 15, 2015
One of the 20th century’s greatest guitarists, B.B. King, has died in Las Vegas at 89 after a career in blues music spanning 66 years.
Born Riley B. King and later nicknamed B.B., he began to develop a uniquely jazzy, sophisticated blues style in Memphis in the late 1940s, earning a reputation for his silky voice and singing guitar lines. King grew to become a major influence on just about every electric guitarist who followed him.
He was a particularly strong inspiration for British players during the British blues boom of the 1960s, leaving an indelible mark on the music of guitar icons Jeff Beck, Jimmy Page, Eric Clapton and above all, Peter Green. B.B. King’s own style was deeply affected by jazz as well as traditional blues forms, his songs often incorporating jazz harmonies and extended improvisations, while his bands typically included full horn sections. With a discography that stretches to over 50 albums, 'The Thrill Is Gone' remains one of his best-known tunes .
A man who made music his life and never ceased to perform for his fans, King’s presence will be sorely missed, while his music continues to inspire yet further generations of listeners.
– Marlowe Heywood-Thornes
– Photo by Tim Dickeson
Remember him this way
Three essential B.B. King albums:
B.B. King Live at the Regal (ABC/Paramount)
B.B. King Completely Well (Bluesway)
B.B. King Live in The Cook County Jail (ABC)