R.I.P B.B. King

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."

                                                   The Thrill is Gone it left with the King!

R.I.P Bobby "Blue" Bland

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

R.I.P. Sherman Hemsley

Sherman Hemsley who played George Jefferson on The Jeffersons passed away yesterday. He also starred in the show Amen. He appeared in Broadway in 1970 and had guest appearances on The Archie Bunker Show. He was a television star during the era of me growing up, and the era of my life where I watched more television. Sorry to see him go. You can read a review o his death from the San Jose Mercury here.

I will show some videos to share memories...

First up he talks about his character George Jefferson...

Here he guest stars on The Fresh Price of Bel-Air:

Here he shares his musical talents on Soul Train"

Here is a clip from The Jeffersons:

Here is a classic clip from Archie Bunker:

Hope you enjoyed the clips, he will be missed....