This blog spot is the home to my ramblings. I am a free lance writer. Most of my work goes on Associated Content. Sometimes I write what is on my mind, sometimes I plug some of my writing, and sometimes a combination of the two. So, sit back read, enjoy, and we will see where it goes.
Today is my Mom's Birthday! If my Mother is following my blog Happy Birthday!
Here is a song for you..
Plenty of B's to go around with The Beatles "Birthday"
Over the years my Mom has bought me concert tickets and has even gone to concerts with me. One of those artists was B.B. King.
"The Thrill is Gone"
I was lucky enough to see B.B. King several times and I was lucky enough to have seen one of those concerts with my Mom. Thanks for visiting and I will be back with a new post soon.
The mid month Battle of the Band rolls on with another battle. It could be a third straight shut out and it wouldn't surprise me. However I am going to make it interesting. The Queen of Soul against the King, B.B.. King who passed away three years ago.
The song was written by Roy Hawkins and Rick Darnell it is called "The Thrill is Gone"
Nine artists/groups and one that is a lie that I have seen in concert. I'm doing mine by genres, starting with The Blues.
1) B.B. King
2) Hubert Sumlin
3) Buddy Guy
4) John Lee Hooker
5) Taj Mahal
6) Robert Cray
7) Albert Collins
8) Keb' Mo
9) Bonnie Raitt
10) James Cotten
Stealing a facebook game and turning it into a blog post. However, with this I get to expand and add music. Please put your guess in the comments. Winner will get their own post.
I'm playing catch up trying to catch up and vote in the Battle of the Bands. Work and a sick child is kind of slowing me down in that department. Of course I wanted to celebrate BB King's birthday but I have posted quite a bit about him this year with his passing.
I wanted to post something new on the subject and here it is. Memphis dedicated a street to the late blues great today calling it B.B. King Boulevard. You can read more about that here.
I guess in spirit you could go "Riding With the King"
"King of the Blues" with John Mayer..
"The Thrill is Gone" featuring Tracy Chapman...
On the songs I went with special guests to make it a little different. B.B, King is certainly missed and a his birthday is a great excuse to celebrate his music. I will be back soon with a new post!
This is a blog post I don't want to write. We knew B.B. King had health problems so the news isn't shocking. It is sad. One of the elder statesman of the blues has passed away. I'm fortunate enough to have seen B.B. King perform live.
Hard to write a tribute about him. I just wrote about him in the A to Z: Challenge last month. The year before I wrote about his troubles on the road.
He was a gifted a story teller. When he was performing his facial expressions and eyes said so much. Of course the sweet notes he played on Lucille held their own with anyone.He was always willing to share the stage with anyone who opened for him.
The last time I saw B.B. King in concert he was on tour with Jeff Beck. ..
The above song is "Paying the Cost to Be the Boss." So many great shows with Jimmie Vaughan, John Hiatt, Tommy Castro, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Jonny Lang and others. He introduced me to a lot of their music.
I wanted to go back, way before my time and dust something off for you "Three O'Clock Blues"
Here BB King is joined by Bobby Blue Bland on Soul Train for "It's My Own Fault"
So many songs. So many memories. I hope he has found peace. He played the blues all his life until this year when health issues pulled him off the road. He did what he wanted and I praise him for that. He will be missed. I don't like doing repeats but I will leave you with BB King and Eric Clapton performing "The Thrill is Gone."
I used J for Joni Mitchell because she had health problems that put her in the hospital since the challenge started. The great B.B. King has also been hospitalized since the challenge started so Iwill play tribute to him with this post.
I've blogged about him a few times in the past. Most notably a year ago and you can read that post here. I have been fortunate to see him several times. Besides being a great guitarist and legendary blues man he has other traits as well. He is an incredible storyteller and his facial expressions really pull you into the story. He also is humble and willing to share the stage with some many. Probably things which help make him a legend.
B.B. with a song about his guitar..
I think Lucille has a few more notes left in her, or at least I hope. Below "Sweet Little Angel"
Blues lovers may like this jam with Buddy Guy, Eric Clapton, and Jimmie Vaughan..
The song was "Rock Me Baby." Are you a fan of B.B. King? What is your favorite song? Any favorite memories of jams? Feel free to share. I wish him fast healing and better health. I hope you enjoy and see you soon!
Today is Eric Clapton's 70th birthday! This will be the third year in a row that I have celebrated Eric Clapton's birthday. Unlike last year I am not going to see him in concert next month. I have had the honor of seeing him in concert a few times.
I will try not to repeat any of the music that I shared in the last two Eric Clapton birthday celebrations! If you want to read them last year's is here and 2013's is here.
If guitarists like Jimmy Page led me to musical doors Eric Clapton was a portal to the blues. He kicked the doors down to blues and said here it is. Not just in his music but who he had open for him. Seeing Eric Clapton in concert meant seeing Taj Mahal, Jimmie Vaughan, and Robert Randolph to name a few.
So this year I would like to celebrate his career with collaborations. I hope you enjoy.
How about this all star version of "Killing Floor" featuring Hubert Sumlin, Jimmie Vaughan, and Robert Cray...
Eric Clapton and B.B. King perform "The Thrill is Gone"
Eric Clapton and Buddy Guy perform "Hoochie Coochie Man"
Eric Clapton and Keith Richards "Key to the Highway"
B.B. King is a living legend. A rock and roll hall of fame member, a blues hall of fame member, Kennedy Center Honoree, awarded a National Medal of Honor, a Presidential Medal of Freedom, 17 Grammy Awards, and he even has a Mississippi Blues Trail Marker. An impressive resume that holds up well against anyone.
Recording with U2 also helped to spread B.B, King's popularity beyond blues...
Eric Clapton helped B.B. King's career grow as well...
Of course B.B. King became King due to his own music..
Over the years I was fortunate to see B.B. King perform life several times in venues like Wolf Trap and Constitution Hall. I even got to see him perform with John Hiatt, Jeff Beck, and Kenny Wayne Shepherd.
I always thought he was a brilliant storyteller. Now at 88 some of his shows have been getting less than glowing reviews. Age and ailments taking bigger tolls. When I saw him I saw how he would sit more during the show. Now reports of lost lyrics, lost musical places, and his guitar playing reduced to brief moments of brilliance. I would take a brief moment of brilliance on Lucille anyday.
This is a review from his performance last Friday from Saint Louis that was a buzz last week. This story reports of more. Sad reports to hear about this musical icon and sad reports to hear about the blues.
Hopefully it was just a bad show. Hopefully he has a little bit more left in him. Maybe he just needs a little help. However, age is a tough thing to over come.
Today I am going to celebrate two birthdays on my blog. John Hiatt turns 61 and Robert Plant turns 65. I thought I would pass on Plant since I covered his concert this summer and I had just posted about Led Zeppelin's birthday but I thought 65 was quite a milestone.John Hiatt is a great songwriter. The best way to celebrate these artists is through their music so sit back and enjoy..
Here is John Hiatt with Sonny Landreth (one of the best slide guitarists on the planet) performing a song B.B. King and Eric Clapton made famous "Riding with the King"
We will start the Robert Plant celebration with "In the Mood"
This song is perhaps my favorite John Hiatt song "Have A Little Faith In Me"
Yes this is a cover song, here is Robert Plant from his Honeydripper days.."Sea of Love"
Here is John Hiatt with a song you might know "Perfectly Good Guitar"
Here Robert Plant covers the beautiful "Song of the Siren" from his Dreamland project...
Here is John Hiatt performing "Thing Called Love" with the great Bonnie Raitt...
Stepping away from the covers with Robert Plant here is "Ship of Fools"
Both artists may be in their 60s but literally I could keep adding songs from both of them all day. I could go back to Roberts pre-Zeppelin days, or the Led Zeppelin days, continue on his solo years, I didn't even touch on his Alison Krauss project, or his new Band of Joy, there is simply so much. John Hiatt has written songs performed by Eric Clapton, B.B. King, Jimmy Buffett and many more. I shared a few songs but trust me he has written so many more gems. I thank them both for their music, I look forward to what music they might still create, and I wish them both a Happy Birthday!
The blues lost a great today when Bobby "Blue" Bland past away at the age of 83. I had the pleasure of seeing him open up for B.B. King several years ago. He was inducted into The Blues Hall of Fame and into The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Rolling Stone Magazine called him one of the top 50 singers of all time. He recorded such classics as "Further On Up The Road," "Turn on Your Love Light," "Ain't No Love in the Heart of the City," and "Ain't Nothing You Can Do." You can recognize who he influenced from the song titles alone, Eric Clapton, The Grateful Dead, and even Jay-Z. The best way to pay tribute to Bobby BLand is by his music...
Here he is singing "Turn on Your Love Light"
Here he performs with B.B. King on Soul Train...
Here he sings "If You're Gonna Walk on My Love"
He will be missed...I'll be back with a new post soon
Why not get back to the music with U2? No reason but to continue on with the challenge.
My favorite album by the band is "Joshua Tree"
This might be my favorite song, but then again I am partial to B.B. King, "When Love Comes to Town"
My favorite one without a guest is "One"
But it was their early stuff that grabbed me like "New Year's Day"
and this song is simply beautiful..The Sweetest Thing..
Like any great band they have a bunch of song out there. What are your favorites? Thanks for checking out the blog and I will have a new post soon. (like in hours)
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