Posted on 02/16/2005 8:11:04 AM PST by bourbon
Blues great B.B. King says he had never set foot in the Mississippi Capitol until Tuesday. Once he arrived, he got a grand welcome.
The state House and Senate declared Tuesday to be B.B. King Day.
During a standing-room-only ceremony in the Senate chamber, lawmakers and Gov. Haley Barbour honored the 79-year-old Delta native whose hits include "The Thrill is Gone.''
King pulled a white handkerchief from his pocket and wiped away tears.
"I never learned to talk very well without Lucille,'' King said, speaking of his black Gibson guitar. "But today, I'm trying to say only God knows how I feel. I am so happy. Thank you.''
Outside the Senate chamber, King was mobbed by fans seeking autographs and pictures. He graciously indulged the requests, even signing a candy-apple red Fender electric guitar for Ben Thompson, chief of staff for Lt. Gov. Amy Tuck.
"Signing guitars that are not Gibson is like being married and kissing a woman who is not your wife,'' the blues man said with a smile.
Arkansas Lt. Gov. Winthrop Paul Rockefeller was at the Mississippi Capitol during the ceremony, and stayed to get a picture made with King.
The singer and invited guests were treated to lunch at the Governor's Mansion.
During an after-lunch interview in his limousine, King said his home state, which once struggled with racial oppression, has made "night and day'' changes over the decades.
"I feel like the prodigal son and they have killed the fattest calf,'' he said. "I am having the time of my life. I thought when I got married it was the happiest time. I thought when I had my first child it was the happiest time. Those were great times.
"This has been the most beautiful day of my life.''
He said the last time he cried was at Ray Charles' funeral.
"That was tears of sorrow,'' King said. "Today, it was tears of joy.''
Riley B. King was born Sept. 16, 1925, on a cotton plantation in Berclair, outside Itta Bena. He earned the nickname "B.B.'' - for Beale Street Blues Boy or just Blues Boy - during his early career in Memphis, Tenn.
King has earned 13 Grammy awards and has been inducted into the Blues Foundation Hall of Fame and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. He has sold more than 40 million records worldwide, and Barbour said there are "more to come - because the thrill is not gone.''
The resolutions are Senate Concurrent Resolution 534 and House Concurrent Resolution 65.
har har.
he wouldn't claim me....lol
actually I am one of Screamin Jay Hawkins 1500 children.
Just goes to show what another man named King said about color of skin and content of character
somehow I agree...... an english guy moaning delta blues seems akin to japanese rockabilly
B.B.'s the MAN!!!!!! He's one of my biggest influences as a guitarist (and just about every blues guitarist alive today.) First saw him play live ten years ago and was struck by his humility and appreciation for his audience. I even shook hands with him after the show, which was quite a thrill!
Absolutely, stratman. You see him once, you become a fan for life even if you weren't before. I was thrilled to be sitting so close to where he was playing -- I could have put my hand out and touched Lucille!! A fine honor for a fine gentleman.
The best, it seems, are also the most humble. Willie Nelson is also very approachable. Duke Ellington and Louis Armstrong were, too.
They appreciate their gift for what it is -- a gift. And they all know the value of work -- because that's what they had to do to polish their gift. Many artists are gifted, but don't understand its value or the work they're obligated to undertake in order to take full advantage of it.
The great ones do. It came easy...but it didn't come easy. If you know what I mean...?
So, signing guitars that aren't Gibsons is like not being married and kissing a woman who is your wife? Could be something Jesse Jackson may understand.
Thanks so much for that, B.B.
You posted exactly what I was going to post.
He and Bono are awesome together on that song.
According to a story he told in his autobiography, he was playing in a club during his early days as a performer when a fight broke out and the club caught fire. He went back into the club when he realized he left his guitar in there. He heard that the fight involved two men fighting over a woman named Lucille. He decided to name his guitar "Lucille" after that, as to remind him, as he said "never to do anything that foolish again." I think he said somewhere else where he's had about 17 or 18 different Lucilles. Some were stolen from him.
Bing! Enlightened. Thanks very much.
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