Is this from "David Hoffman's film" ? Check out "David Hoffman film maker" UA-cam channel. Sorry read the link, it is Davids film. Check his channel. Great stuff on there.
B.B. King the Legend. A man who could speak his mind through his guitar, (Lucille) with so much soul and feeling. No wonder they call him the King of Blues. R.I.P. big man. Your presence is truly missed. 🎸 👼🏾👍
My father and I both had the pleasure of seeing B.B. King live in concert over 30 years ago. Bobby "Blue" Bland was the opening act. It's hard to believe they're both gone now. I remember one woman in the audience was being so loud during Bobby's performance that he stopped the song to ask her to please be quiet. The whole audience had a good laugh because he did exactly what all of us were thinking.
Saw Bobby with his band in Fort Worth in the mid 80s. What an entertainer! Great band! Man I was lucky to hear him, that nasal "gator growl" was so distinctive, like Derek Trucks' guitar - the noise after the noise gate opens, before he plays the note ...
One of the best Vibratos in the business. This is why everybody says BB can do more with 1 note than most guitar players do with 20 .....Liquid Vibrato is the only way to describe it.
I had the privilege of seeing BB twice, both times in London. As a long time fan of his before these gigs, the almost big band performances were not quite what I was expecting. The moment he started playing a solo, the hairs stood up and the shivers went down the spine. And that voice! An absolute legend in the proper sense of the word
I saw him on the Boston Common in 1971. For $2.50 it was Paul Butterfield, James Montgomery, a little known young lady named Bonnie Raite and BB King. Outside on a nice Summer's night. I've seen him a few times, but that one is the one that sticks in my mind. Oh yeah.... They all came out to play a twenty minute version of The Thrll is Gone!" A show like that today would cost over $300!
BB king was kinda like what david gilmour is to rock, they didn't/ dont play very fast, but the melodies, the timing the note selection is magical. in your video here Fil the lick BB does at 1:48 to 1:55 is absolutely stunning and beautiful. In my opinion this is what set BB king apart from any other blues guitarist i've ever heard, sure they can be melodic, but BB is on a whole other level, Gilmour is more or less the same in rock.
Agreed and u know what ...he had bursts of blinding speed...if the song called for it........music is not a race ..and the ear n brain can only hear so fast and digest it anyway
B.B. King is one of my all time favorite guitarists! His choice of notes is just superb. As you point out he does not just play standard blues runs, and that goes all the way back to his time in the armed forces. One of his army buddies liked his guitar playing, but thought he would expose B.B. to a different style of music than just pure blues. He gave B.B. a Django Reinhardt album, and to B.B.'s credit he expanded is musical vocabulary by incorporating Django's licks into his playing. A great example of this can be heard here at 1:42 - 1:46. Great clip to review, thanks!
Great analysis! So much emotion, He’s is the vibrato king! That’s a crowd you don’t want to disappoint😬. BB “Live At The Regal” one of best live blues albums...a must in any guitarist’ collection.
I saw the great BB King so many times I've lost track, I'm guessing 12 times. Once, he broke a string, and rather then have a roadie give him another guitar (most players would change guitars) he asked for a new string and changed himself while he told the "Lucille" story I'm sure he told thousands of times- but it was cool. One time he played with such feeling he brought me to tears. I'm a guitarist who appreciates talent- he had it! Great performer! Thank you for analyzing all these great players- it is a treat!
B.B King was such a strong influence for many players, I don't think you can overstate his contribution - Eric Clapton in particular, Robben Ford, Jeff Beck - they all learned from him
Thanks for this one Fil, and as always, great insight and commentary on the heart&soul of the subject. There's nobody online doing what you are, and added to that are your own great performances. You have carved out a niche that you "OWN" on this medium, and deserve many rewards for the hard work. As a suggestion for an artist to cover, I've always been a Bonnie Raitt fan and would love to hear what you think of her writing, singing and slide guitar playing.
BB King was and will always be the Father/Master of the blues in my opinion. He's quite possibly the most influential guitarist in history as most of what followed in many different genres of music all stemmed from origins rooted deeply in the blues. One story I remember reading many years ago now relates to the very first guitar that BB was given. Not sure what type of guitar it was but when given that guitar by his father he asked his father for some advice on what to do with regards to learning guitar. His father's reply not in so many words was 'If you play something and it doesn't sound any good forget it but if you play something and you like the sound of it then remember it.' I can't remember exactly where I read that as I'm getting old now n have read many books over the years regarding music history, especially blues music history, But it's a quote, not quite word for word I'm sure, but it's something that's influenced my own approach to playing guitar my whole life and something that will continue to influence me till I draw my last breath. Great vid again Fil, Peace and good vibes dude.
Also, if you recall B.B. in his autobiography refers to singing first and then trying "to sing on the guitar". That just about says it all!!! It's no wonder he has such a great voice!
@@richgilroy Exactly, simple words yet quite possibly the single most important and influential bit of music advice ever given to any musician in musical history as without those words things would probably have been very different indeed.
@@mr.marcus3123 True indeed, yet another example of why BB is without doubt the 'King' as his name suggests. Also..... People could very well look at some of today's guitar greats such as Vai, Satriani etc and say that technically with what they do they're miles ahead of BB technically. But there's a big difference in my opinion...... Ya see if we look at Satriani, What Joe does may well be technically superior and more complex and when I listen to Joe his playing makes my brain dance n feel alive...... But with BB, when I listen to BB play that makes my soul dance! It touches my soul on a level that no other guitarist ever has. This is what really makes BB stand out from the crowd and quite rightfully deserve to be called the King! Keith Richards said 'the guirarists who will be remembered in years to come are the one's that play with feel!'.......well BB played with so much feel and soul I honestly believe he'll be remembered long long long after anyone reading this is alive and that about says it all really I think?
B.B. King.... 👑..... Tasty vibrato ... Its inside of him coming out.... Professor King.... We love B.B. King... The band is so tight ... Starting out softly... B.B. softly puts his lead on top of it ... Instantly transformed the audience attention... Beautiful Brotherrrrr... Single note specialist... Whether hammer... Streches... Vibrato....clean
Great! I loved when BB was with U2 in the movie Rattle And Hum and played "When Love Comes to Town.". BB seemed so humble and unsure of himself while U2 was in awe of him. He told Bono, "You mighty young to be writin' such heavy lyrics." Then he was worried about the chords and said that he was never very good with chords. Bono told him that The Edge will handle the chords and that there were only about 3 of them in the song. I'm not sure BB knew how great he was.
BB King was one of a kind. There's a story about him and Billy Gibbons. BB King looked at Billy's guitar that had 10s or 11s and asked him "Why you working so hard?" and nowadays Billy plays 8s
Thanks again! I had the privilege in my lifetime to see BB King live three times. I got to meet him as you probably know from my past texts. Love this clip. Blessings my friend.
When I saw you did a video of B.B. King, I thought "I hope it's the prison show". This is one of my favorite ever performances from anyone. He really transformed that crowd in a short time. B.B. was a package deal along with the guitar - an expressive singer with character and his great faces!
Really enjoyed this one. Several years ago, right before BB died, he was doing a tour of smaller venues over here in the US. A local radio station had a contest for tickets. I remarked to my daughter I'd love to go but couldn't due to work and the price of tickets. I didn't know it, but my daughter was entered in the contest. Right before my birthday I got a call from her. She asked my if I still wanted to see BB, then she said Happy Birthday! She won 2nd row, center stage seats at the Lexington Opera House in Kentucky. A coworker heard what was going on and volunteered to cover me for a few hours so I could go. It was great! I've even got the pick he played The Thrill Is Gone with! Even with his age, and sitting down to perform he still had that magic. After the show he just sat there interacting with the audience. Shortly afterwards I heard he was gone. One of the greatest blues performers ever! On a side note, I think his rhythm guitarist that night in Lexington was the same one in this video! Thanks for bringing back good memories Fil!
I’m from Mississippi. We have B.B. we have Elvis and you can’t forget the father of country music. Mr Jimmy Rogers. I do so love my state and all the contributions to music it has made. I met B.B. when I was a kid and he is as humble as great as he plays. That will be all dearly missed.
I remember seeing BB at Massey Hall, he walked across the stage away from the mic and his voice still soared above the band, greatest vocalist I have heard!
You hit the nail on the head. B.B. King conveyed the truth. You can tell from this video that he genuinely liked people. I was fortunate enough to meet him backstage and spend time between sets. He did not know me from Adam's house cat; but he was a true gentleman. He treated people like they were the famous ones.
Fil, I looked at this because of the ref. from the Buddy Guy video you did. B.B. is one of those artists I sadly never saw live. I was in his restaurant in Memphis, TN one time 10-12 years ago and the night before he and E.C. sneaked in the back door and watched a show, I almost cried.... I was in town and put off going to his place until the following night. B.B. was the guy that could still melt your face even at that very low dynamic you mentioned. Thanks again.
Again I enjoy how you break down and explain the talent of these artists and what makes them great and unique. You would make an amazing music teacher. Your passion for these artists is contagious and Young artist should watch these videos
B.B. King was pure entertainment, I'm very lucky to have seen him live when I was 15. I met the guy after the show. On stage he seemed so big and tall and I was quite surprised he was shorter then me. That tells you one thing, on stage he performed so well, like a giant!! His sound, soul in his voice and his playing inspired so many of the greats we love today. his vibrato is very very good. Stop and feel the notes in his playing one of the greatest... Thanks again for the upload brings out the kid in me...
Nobody...but nobody gave as much to his audience or to the blues as BB King Such a beautiful man ...met him in 1974 ...my girlfriend and I snuck Into a nook backstage for a joint before his show....this voice goes...excuse me sir...do you mind? Turned around and it's HIM and his tenor player...he spoke to us...a couple of spotty faced kids like we were old friends...had a joint with us and went out and tore everyone's heart out...that's a memory I'll take to the grave with a grin ❤️
Why are white people, so bloody concerned over black people's humility..?? I'm not saying you mean wrong, but it is a bit perverse. lots of surly mean black people; were/are important, righteous, figures in history, also. don't fetishize humility.
brainsareus because not all people in the music business are humble... I’ll give you another couple examples : Buddy Guy, Gary Clark Jr, Albert King, Mr. Charles Bradley.. just to name a few more..
im annonymous lol ... I think you understood my point 😬 🧠Sareus has an issue with a White man complementing a black man for some reason.. I suppose if it were Mark Knopfler on your video, which I know a lot about , I probably would’ve said the same thing.. funny I can’t ever recalling ever thinking anything negative when a black person complements a white person.just a very disrespectful comment he made .. but what do I know.... I’m just a guy who sits in his music room after work playing guitar for five or six hours a day and look forward to seeing wings of Pegasus vids 👊🏻🎸😬
I'm glad you did this analysis, not just because I enjoy listening to B.B King, and know how well he played - but because some -------- made a rude comment about B B. only playing three chords
Nice! I had the pleasure of seeing BB King in New Orleans in 1996 at a very quaint little amphitheatre. We were attending a blues and jazz festival at the time and hit this show as an additional treat. Buddy Guy is great too!
That was not the typical intro for this tune; that improvised quiet guitar solo lingered until the crowd quieted down and started listening. Brilliant crowd work. When a gig falls flat and you find yourself blaming the crowd, revisit this and notice the creative way he keeps drawing them in and whipping them up.
BB was my introduction to the blues as a child, and his playing and vocals are, for me, the standard by which all blues artists should be measured no matter their specific style of playing or singing.With BB, it’s like listening to conversation with the guitar.
One of my very favorites.....had the pleasure of seeing him in concert about 20 years ago and took my son who was 17 at the time......it was such a great show.
If I could make a deal with the devil and give my soul for one skill I'd take BB King's vibrato. Not Steve Vai's speed, not Malmsteen's shredding, not Gary Moore's phrasing, not Randy Rhoads' ability to pick notes tastefully, it'd be BB King's vibrato. It's incredible and it makes him sound so unique.Hearing it lets you know instantly that it's BB King.
Love the man!!! Just his presence on stage was unbelievable!! He was I believe one of the true souls of the blues!!! He had it all!!! A legend in every way he made look effortless!!!!! He was named right B.B King!!!! King of the blues!!!! RIP B.B!!!! Cheers Fil great vid!!!!!
I just ran across this video. I'm 61, and BB was one of my main seminal influences. I was a teenager, and BB King live at Cook County Jail just moved me to bits. The nuanced guitar playing, the singing crying tone, the holding back of emotion till the right moment, it was just so great. You have nailed this in one, you have.
Yep, he was a strong player. And you can still hear how strong he was even when he played softly. Then he opened it up and the crowd goes wild! Cool, Thanks again Fil
Another artist who belongs to my state, I live between MEMPHIS and NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE, lucky me I am 77,so I have been lucky to have lived through all of the best music!,and that means all kinds, ( not too fond of jazz
Thanks for another (yet another!) fine video analysis, Fil. BB King was such an excellent player and singer and he always chose the finest musicians for his band. He was, as you mention in so many words, a complete gentleman - one who had the gift of being able to interact with all different sorts of people at all levels. That, I believe, was how he managed to keep that crowd's attention.
To me going 100 miles am hour you miss all that's astound you you mis the scenery, but traveling at a slower pace you get to enjoy the scenery. In essence traveling at a slower pace isn't always so bad.
Terrific! In those days many musicians 'lived' their music, reflecting their times and their social conditions. BB was one of the pioneering greats for sure. Nice to see that the audience was made up of both men and women. I don't know how that was done, but great to see it. Goes back to a time when a $10 meal was an expensive dinner, too!! Love it. God Bless them all.
So. Much. Space. In between the notes. BB, he plays ONE NOTE, and my tears start. Simple but exquisite phrases, and an alternately soothing and powerhouse voice. This, this is my jam. Thanks for reviewing one of my favourite recordings.
So much to say and enjoy. Look at his face - he's feeling every note. The gaps between notes - just as important as the notes themselves. Less is more, not flash just soul and feel. This should be compulsory listening for ALL musicians, not just guitarists. Dynamics, feel, this has it all. A delight
Not 100% sure but I think it was BB King. If I am wrong "have mercy" (Billy Gibbons). There is a video on which he talks about to enter a venue with mainly a white audience, and he thinks wrong venue, this isn't my audience. This was just before blues got big and white folks started to appreciate the blues. Can anybody confirm or deny this?
Mike Hydropneumatic Don't know about that story, but I do remember hearing about the time BB was playing at a black club in Beaumont Tx. called the Raven. There was only one white guy in the place, a tall, skinny, pasty faced kid who kept asking to sit in on guitar. BB eventually relented after confirming he wasn't with the IRS, and that he had a musician's union card lol. The kid strapped on Lucille and proceeded to blow the roof off that juke joint to a standing ovation. BB said to the kid " you've got a future in music kid, what was your name again"? "My name is Johnny Winter Mr. King".
@@mbsnyderc Yes, he even mentioned to the audience. I first saw him there. They had a lot of bands every night, all very different but the audience was accepting of a very wide range of music genre...the whole tradition of booking really diverse acts was started by Chet Helms who later had the Family Dog Ballroom. Where else but San Francisco late 60s would a typical playbill include an 85-year-old acoustic delta bluesman, Blue Cheer(the first heavy metal band), Ravi Shankar(top classical Indian music), Sons of Champlin, Jefferson Airplane, the Turtles and the Grateful Dead....admission $2. White kids were introduced to Delta and Chicago electric blues by these ballrooms. It was hard to believe now since SF has become so expensive to live in now. But back then, it was dirt cheap because you could crash anywhere, and there were low-cost ethnic cafes and food stores. I moved there in 1967 just hours after I graduated mid-term from high school and was not interested in music but that changed quickly after I discovered the nice cliff top apartment I rented across from the Cliff House had the Family Dog directly below at the base of the cliff. Filmore was walking distance. Winterland a bit further and Longshoreman's Hall and Warfield were easy to reach. Not long after, within a couple weeks the musicians learned that I could repair their amps easily being an electronics nerd and that started my long career as recording engineer and studio owner, and designer of equipment. The scene is remembered for music but it was really the birth of alternative lifestyles and philosophies and grew out of the end of the Beats which focused on philosophy, literature, poetry, political philosophy, jazz music, art etc. Later, due to the fame of the Summer of Love, the music and drugs kids from all over the US swarmed into San Francisco, who never had any interest in the cultural aspects of the SF scene, just free love drugs and living for free so the scene deteriorated quickly. Some of us moved north to Marin, for further to Mendocino or down to Santa Cruz of Big Sur. Many many of us ended up in Sausalito, Mill Valley etc that become one of the most expensive places to live in the US. But I was able to rent a large very cool houseboat for $260/month that was large enough for 15-20 people and now it would be $ 15,000/month. My next door(next slip) neighbor was Allan Watts, who was a famous writer and scholar who popularized Zen philosophy. The Grateful Dead moved up there along with Bill Graham, Santana and lots of other people in the music, art, literature and acting fields. Sausalito was just over the Golden Gate Bridge so it was easy to return to SF but must of us did not go often. The scene-based on art and philosophy became rather seedy in SF.
I got to see BB and Bobby Blue Bland new years eve in Dallas about 75 . One of the greatest shows . They used to tour together alot . He was a different player in his younger years.
B B was a consumate professional. When he made Rolling Stone magazine, it said that if he thought a gig hadnt gone as perfectly as he wanted, hed sometimes cry after the show. He also stated someplace after hearing a rocker play some fast guitar :"I can play the same thing, but I use fewer notes".
I LOVE your reactions. It is obvious that you are totally into the music and enjoy it so much. I enjoy your analysis of the music and how it is played.
Saw him first on Kenny Rogers old show, Rollin', and BB was having a guitar play-off with one of the First Edition members. Definitely he had a magical stage presence.
What I liked most about B.B. King is that when he played with other musicians he elevated their play to way beyond what they were normally capable of. Examples when B.B. King played with U2, Collin James, Tracy Chapman, Tony Bennett etc When playing with U2 Bono asked BB King what cords he would play in, and BB's response was I don't do chords. He drove U2 crazy because he played what he felt at the time so no 2 performances were the same.
Hi Fil, great review bud, BB was awesome! I just checked out your song on your website, Paris Nord, and I like it. I plan on getting your album on amazon so I can listen to more. Rock On!
BB is awesome - I saw him play once here, with a large band with horns, etc. His solos are very much like a singing voice; emotional, slower with a lot of pitch bending (like a singer would do). And he is a great singer in his own right. Love some of his songs where he has his guitar do call and response to his own voice. And both of those are at the top of the game. Was really sad when passed away.
Seen B.B. at The Beacon back in the late 90's, I managed to get right down there front stage and he dropped a guitar pin on the stage for me, (he couldn't really bend down by then) and i still have that pin, a concert T-shirt I bought and that concert ticket stub. 😊
Yeah this is a good one. A lot of unknown blues guitar players still exist here in Mississippi. There this kid name Kingfish is the future. B.B King. Dewayne Burnside is another local guitar player. His father was R.L Burnside.
You Right !!! He is one hell of good singer . To hell with his guitar. Imagine him singing in the middle of a pasture with no one hear him but god. That is how he prays.
Good job Phil another professional breakdown of the performance you sound like a football announcer giving play by play you are so damn good at it it's amazing it is spot-on you are the best taking apart a performance and putting it all together so I know exactly what is happening keep it up buddy
Thanks for your interpretation Fil. Do you have post education in music theory? It would seem so. It’s a nice change to have complimentary critiques of music vs. the negative alternative. Great channel, maybe post more theory on your own original music, your Dokken cover was rock solid. Cheers
Thanks! I've been playing for 24 years, but when I started I learned to play be ear not knowing any theory! After a few years I had worked out a lot of shapes, progressions and scales, then found out what it was all actually called! Learning things back to front really helps with my teaching I think as I can throw in the important theoretical points, without sacrificing fretboard time. I didn't do a degree, mainly because I jammed with a guitarist when I was younger who had just got his degree, and he just couldn't follow the progressions, improvise or feel where the music was going. So I thought I didn't want to end up like that! Having said that, I do teach ABRSM Grades, but I do prefer when someone wants to learn with no grade imposed restrictions. I try to keep these videos less theory based, as I know a lot of people who watch don't even play an instrument. Also the videos would go on for ages and unfortunately I have a very tight window of opportunity in my day to get these videos done. Hopefully that will change one day!
I saw him at the academy of music on 14th NYC is was fantastic. I saw a vid of him breaking a string and changing it in front of the crowd telling a story never skipped a beat
I wish I'd have seen B.B. King when he was younger. His playing here is truly outstanding and shows why he's a total legend. I saw him when he toured with Jeff Beck and at that point age and illness and taken their toll (he sat in a chair and talked more than he played). He had one of the best vibratos ever!
I agree that dynamics are important and so many people overlook it. There is an idea in yoga that you are never as relaxed as when you were just tense. Another idea is that you can never be as loud as after you were just being silent. The analogy I use is that if your music is all fast or all slow it is like reading a book that is all exclamation points or all periods. If you don't mix it up it will get boring no matter how exciting you may think it is.
He makes the notes talk. Also has a Great voice - Gospel. I feel like we are in a hot and humid Southern Baptist church. Have they updated the $10 dinner line in the song?
BB King had great melodic lines. I was looking at some old BB King live stuff from the late 70's and realized that BB could rip some fast soulful lines, and his voice is as soulful as his guitar playing. I see the folk singer Joan Boaz in the crowd.
BB is the only man that could make you feel that one note, it tells a whole story.
BB has got such a unique way of playing for blues. Always plucking one string at a time.
He's letting the music walk before he sings
Is this from "David Hoffman's film" ?
Check out "David Hoffman film maker" UA-cam channel.
Sorry read the link, it is Davids film.
Check his channel. Great stuff on there.
B.B. King the Legend. A man who could speak his mind through his guitar, (Lucille) with so much soul and feeling. No wonder they call him the King of Blues. R.I.P. big man. Your presence is truly missed. 🎸 👼🏾👍
Amen.
My father and I both had the pleasure of seeing B.B. King live in concert over 30 years ago. Bobby "Blue" Bland was the opening act. It's hard to believe they're both gone now. I remember one woman in the audience was being so loud during Bobby's performance that he stopped the song to ask her to please be quiet. The whole audience had a good laugh because he did exactly what all of us were thinking.
Awesome!
Saw Bobby with his band in Fort Worth in the mid 80s. What an entertainer! Great band! Man I was lucky to hear him, that nasal "gator growl" was so distinctive, like Derek Trucks' guitar - the noise after the noise gate opens, before he plays the note ...
One of the best Vibratos in the business. This is why everybody says BB can do more with 1 note than most guitar players do with 20 .....Liquid Vibrato is the only way to describe it.
Amen!
I had the privilege of seeing BB twice, both times in London. As a long time fan of his before these gigs, the almost big band performances were not quite what I was expecting. The moment he started playing a solo, the hairs stood up and the shivers went down the spine. And that voice! An absolute legend in the proper sense of the word
I saw him on the Boston Common in 1971.
For $2.50 it was Paul Butterfield, James Montgomery, a little known young lady named Bonnie Raite and BB King. Outside on a nice Summer's night.
I've seen him a few times, but that one is the one that sticks in my mind.
Oh yeah.... They all came out to play a twenty minute version of The Thrll is Gone!" A show like that today would cost over $300!
BB king was kinda like what david gilmour is to rock, they didn't/ dont play very fast, but the melodies, the timing the note selection is magical. in your video here Fil the lick BB does at 1:48 to 1:55 is absolutely stunning and beautiful. In my opinion this is what set BB king apart from any other blues guitarist i've ever heard, sure they can be melodic, but BB is on a whole other level, Gilmour is more or less the same in rock.
👍
But I think BB thinks a lot faster than Gilmour.
Agreed and u know what
...he had bursts of blinding speed...if the song called for it........music is not a race
..and the ear n brain can only hear so fast and digest it anyway
Xenomorph #2277 Clapton is the same when he plays the blues, very similar style. No wonder BB and Clapton made an album together
@@HamiltonRb And what a magical album that was...
B.B. King is one of my all time favorite guitarists! His choice of notes is just superb. As you point out he does not just play standard blues runs, and that goes all the way back to his time in the armed forces. One of his army buddies liked his guitar playing, but thought he would expose B.B. to a different style of music than just pure blues. He gave B.B. a Django Reinhardt album, and to B.B.'s credit he expanded is musical vocabulary by incorporating Django's licks into his playing. A great example of this can be heard here at 1:42 - 1:46. Great clip to review, thanks!
Thanks Wade!
B.B. King also cited Blind Lemon Jefferson and Charlie Christian as influences. You can certainly hear Charlie Christian in that arpeggio run.
Great analysis! So much emotion, He’s is the vibrato king! That’s a crowd you don’t want to disappoint😬. BB “Live At The Regal” one of best live blues albums...a must in any guitarist’ collection.
👍
I saw the great BB King so many times I've lost track, I'm guessing 12 times. Once, he broke a string, and rather then have a roadie give him another guitar (most players would change guitars) he asked for a new string and changed himself while he told the "Lucille" story I'm sure he told thousands of times- but it was cool. One time he played with such feeling he brought me to tears. I'm a guitarist who appreciates talent- he had it! Great performer!
Thank you for analyzing all these great players- it is a treat!
Cool!
B.B King was such a strong influence for many players, I don't think you can overstate his contribution - Eric Clapton in particular, Robben Ford, Jeff Beck - they all learned from him
I think he was so influential because he always made love to his guitar and shared his love with the audience.
👍
You forget Jimi Hendrix:He sat in with BB Kings band at the Generation Club in 1968.There is a tape with him and Jimi Hendrix jamming.
Always luv a LITTLE B.B God rest his loving soul.
Amen.
Thanks for this one Fil, and as always, great insight and commentary on the heart&soul of the subject. There's nobody online doing what you are, and added to that are your own great performances. You have carved out a niche that you "OWN" on this medium, and deserve many rewards for the hard work. As a suggestion for an artist to cover, I've always been a Bonnie Raitt fan and would love to hear what you think of her writing, singing and slide guitar playing.
Thanks! She's on the list!
BB King was and will always be the Father/Master of the blues in my opinion. He's quite possibly the most influential guitarist in history as most of what followed in many different genres of music all stemmed from origins rooted deeply in the blues.
One story I remember reading many years ago now relates to the very first guitar that BB was given.
Not sure what type of guitar it was but when given that guitar by his father he asked his father for some advice on what to do with regards to learning guitar.
His father's reply not in so many words was 'If you play something and it doesn't sound any good forget it but if you play something and you like the sound of it then remember it.'
I can't remember exactly where I read that as I'm getting old now n have read many books over the years regarding music history, especially blues music history,
But it's a quote, not quite word for word I'm sure, but it's something that's influenced my own approach to playing guitar my whole life and something that will continue to influence me till I draw my last breath.
Great vid again Fil,
Peace and good vibes dude.
Thanks Stuart!
i love this! So simple yet i dont think ive ever heard it said before!
Also, if you recall B.B. in his autobiography refers to singing first and then trying "to sing on the guitar". That just about says it all!!! It's no wonder he has such a great voice!
@@richgilroy
Exactly, simple words yet quite possibly the single most important and influential bit of music advice ever given to any musician in musical history as without those words things would probably have been very different indeed.
@@mr.marcus3123
True indeed, yet another example of why BB is without doubt the 'King' as his name suggests.
Also.....
People could very well look at some of today's guitar greats such as Vai, Satriani etc and say that technically with what they do they're miles ahead of BB technically.
But there's a big difference in my opinion......
Ya see if we look at Satriani,
What Joe does may well be technically superior and more complex and when I listen to Joe his playing makes my brain dance n feel alive......
But with BB, when I listen to BB play that makes my soul dance!
It touches my soul on a level that no other guitarist ever has.
This is what really makes BB stand out from the crowd and quite rightfully deserve to be called the King!
Keith Richards said 'the guirarists who will be remembered in years to come are the one's that play with feel!'.......well BB played with so much feel and soul I honestly believe he'll be remembered long long long after anyone reading this is alive and that about says it all really I think?
B.B. King.... 👑..... Tasty vibrato ... Its inside of him coming out.... Professor King.... We love B.B. King... The band is so tight ... Starting out softly... B.B. softly puts his lead on top of it ... Instantly transformed the audience attention... Beautiful Brotherrrrr... Single note specialist... Whether hammer... Streches... Vibrato....clean
Listen to that voice head/ chest...
Great! I loved when BB was with U2 in the movie Rattle And Hum and played "When Love Comes to Town.". BB seemed so humble and unsure of himself while U2 was in awe of him. He told Bono, "You mighty young to be writin' such heavy lyrics." Then he was worried about the chords and said that he was never very good with chords. Bono told him that The Edge will handle the chords and that there were only about 3 of them in the song. I'm not sure BB knew how great he was.
👍
BB King was one of a kind. There's a story about him and Billy Gibbons. BB King looked at Billy's guitar that had 10s or 11s and asked him "Why you working so hard?" and nowadays Billy plays 8s
Thanks again! I had the privilege in my lifetime to see BB King live three times. I got to meet him as you probably know from my past texts. Love this clip. Blessings my friend.
I'd be willing to bet, they were ALL BB fans after the show.
"I don't play no chords."
RIP BB. Thanks.
👍
That's a great quote. Here's another one from Wild Bill Davison (Cornet player) "I'm not sure I know what a chord is."
Spot on Fil . I saw him in person in the 80's and what a great performance it was . Love this video !
Awesome!
When I saw you did a video of B.B. King, I thought "I hope it's the prison show". This is one of my favorite ever performances from anyone. He really transformed that crowd in a short time. B.B. was a package deal along with the guitar - an expressive singer with character and his great faces!
Cool!
Even BB King called this his best performance.
Really enjoyed this one. Several years ago, right before BB died, he was doing a tour of smaller venues over here in the US. A local radio station had a contest for tickets. I remarked to my daughter I'd love to go but couldn't due to work and the price of tickets. I didn't know it, but my daughter was entered in the contest. Right before my birthday I got a call from her. She asked my if I still wanted to see BB, then she said Happy Birthday! She won 2nd row, center stage seats at the Lexington Opera House in Kentucky. A coworker heard what was going on and volunteered to cover me for a few hours so I could go. It was great! I've even got the pick he played The Thrill Is Gone with! Even with his age, and sitting down to perform he still had that magic. After the show he just sat there interacting with the audience. Shortly afterwards I heard he was gone. One of the greatest blues performers ever! On a side note, I think his rhythm guitarist that night in Lexington was the same one in this video! Thanks for bringing back good memories Fil!
BB shot a blues dart right into their hearts. Music is so powerful
👍
I’m from Mississippi. We have B.B. we have Elvis and you can’t forget the father of country music. Mr Jimmy Rogers. I do so love my state and all the contributions to music it has made. I met B.B. when I was a kid and he is as humble as great as he plays. That will be all dearly missed.
Amen!
🎸🎼 great video 🤘
A real show man blues 🎸🎼🎼
Great style 🎸🙋
👍
Saw B.B.several times in my life never disappointed could say more with a couple notes than most guitarists can say in a lifetime!!!
Cool!
I remember seeing BB at Massey Hall, he walked across the stage away from the mic and his voice still soared above the band, greatest vocalist I have heard!
His vocals blow me away!
You hit the nail on the head. B.B. King conveyed the truth. You can tell from this video that he genuinely liked people. I was fortunate enough to meet him backstage and spend time between sets. He did not know me from Adam's house cat; but he was a true gentleman. He treated people like they were the famous ones.
Fil, I looked at this because of the ref. from the Buddy Guy video you did. B.B. is one of those artists I sadly never saw live. I was in his restaurant in Memphis, TN one time 10-12 years ago and the night before he and E.C. sneaked in the back door and watched a show, I almost cried.... I was in town and put off going to his place until the following night. B.B. was the guy that could still melt your face even at that very low dynamic you mentioned. Thanks again.
No problem ☺
Again I enjoy how you break down and explain the talent of these artists and what makes them great and unique. You would make an amazing music teacher. Your passion for these artists is contagious and Young artist should watch these videos
Thanks! I've been teaching guitar professionally for 14 years ☺
Powerful stage presence, vibrato to die for and as you pointed out Fil, he's got a great soulful voice to go with it.
The KING! Thank you for all you do to instill the appreciation of music into a pop culture riddled world.
OMG, thanks for sharing that, I have been a fan of BB King since the 1960's. I get very emotional just listening to him, he just rocks my soul!
BB was so exciting to watch in this amazing performance ! and the audience was so receptive to it ! What a fantastic performance !
B.B. King was pure entertainment, I'm very lucky to have seen him live when I was 15. I met the guy after the show. On stage he seemed so big and tall and I was quite surprised he was shorter then me. That tells you one thing, on stage he performed so well, like a giant!! His sound, soul in his voice and his playing inspired so many of the greats we love today. his vibrato is very very good. Stop and feel the notes in his playing one of the greatest... Thanks again for the upload brings out the kid in me...
Awesome! No problem!
Great analysis and great performance. I love how you respect those who do it so well.
Fil, with all of these great blues vids you've dug up, I do declare you're turning into a bona fide Bluesman!
😂
Just checked out the full video. Man, what a performer! Thanks Fil.
👍
Nobody...but nobody gave as much to his audience or to the blues as BB King
Such a beautiful man ...met him in 1974 ...my girlfriend and I snuck Into a nook backstage for a joint before his show....this voice goes...excuse me sir...do you mind? Turned around and it's HIM and his tenor player...he spoke to us...a couple of spotty faced kids like we were old friends...had a joint with us and went out and tore everyone's heart out...that's a memory I'll take to the grave with a grin ❤️
Haha cool!
Great analysis. I love how he closes his eyes and really feels every bit of the music, whether it's him singing or Lucille.
BB inspired me to play at 8 years old. Saw him every time he came to town. I love that man😊 thanks fil
Was very lucky to see him 3 times in concert...insane musician! One of my favorites...he plays it as he feels it.
What a humble man he was ..
👍
Why are white people, so bloody concerned over black people's humility..??
I'm not saying you mean wrong, but it is a bit perverse. lots of surly mean black people; were/are important, righteous, figures in history, also. don't fetishize humility.
brainsareus because not all people in the music business are humble... I’ll give you another couple examples : Buddy Guy, Gary Clark Jr, Albert King, Mr. Charles Bradley.. just to name a few more..
@@stevetrivago I've often heard Albert king was a prick lol and chuck was a contrary mofo too.
....I've heard I have no friends lol so what do I know
im annonymous lol ... I think you understood my point 😬 🧠Sareus has an issue with a White man complementing a black man for some reason.. I suppose if it were Mark Knopfler on your video, which I know a lot about , I probably would’ve said the same thing.. funny I can’t ever recalling ever thinking anything negative when a black person complements a white person.just a very disrespectful comment he made .. but what do I know.... I’m just a guy who sits in his music room after work playing guitar for five or six hours a day and look forward to seeing wings of Pegasus vids 👊🏻🎸😬
I'm glad you did this analysis, not just because I enjoy listening to B.B King, and know how well he played - but because some -------- made a rude comment about B B. only playing three chords
One of the greats. Feel so privileged I got to see him once.
Such good entertainment. Made everybody happy and me as well. Great man, musician.
One of the best bluesmen and a guitar pioneer and ambassador. He was awesome live.
Amen.
Nice! I had the pleasure of seeing BB King in New Orleans in 1996 at a very quaint little amphitheatre. We were attending a blues and jazz festival at the time and hit this show as an additional treat. Buddy Guy is great too!
Awesome! Yes he is 👍
That was not the typical intro for this tune; that improvised quiet guitar solo lingered until the crowd quieted down and started listening. Brilliant crowd work. When a gig falls flat and you find yourself blaming the crowd, revisit this and notice the creative way he keeps drawing them in and whipping them up.
BB was my introduction to the blues as a child, and his playing and vocals are, for me, the standard by which all blues artists should be measured no matter their specific style of playing or singing.With BB, it’s like listening to conversation with the guitar.
One of the masters. I was fortunate to see him in a small venue, first row, in 1984. I’ll never forget it. His playing was perfect.
Cool!
One of my very favorites.....had the pleasure of seeing him in concert about 20 years ago and took my son who was 17 at the time......it was such a great show.
If I could make a deal with the devil and give my soul for one skill I'd take BB King's vibrato. Not Steve Vai's speed, not Malmsteen's shredding, not Gary Moore's phrasing, not Randy Rhoads' ability to pick notes tastefully, it'd be BB King's vibrato. It's incredible and it makes him sound so unique.Hearing it lets you know instantly that it's BB King.
👍
Practice it until you sound like him.
Love the man!!! Just his presence on stage was unbelievable!! He was I believe one of the true souls of the blues!!! He had it all!!! A legend in every way he made look effortless!!!!! He was named right B.B King!!!! King of the blues!!!! RIP B.B!!!! Cheers Fil great vid!!!!!
Amen!
I just ran across this video. I'm 61, and BB was one of my main seminal influences. I was a teenager, and BB King live at Cook County Jail just moved me to bits. The nuanced guitar playing, the singing crying tone, the holding back of emotion till the right moment, it was just so great. You have nailed this in one, you have.
Yep, he was a strong player. And you can still hear how strong he was even when he played softly. Then he opened it up and the crowd goes wild! Cool, Thanks again Fil
No problem!
Another artist who belongs to my state, I live between MEMPHIS and NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE, lucky me I am 77,so I have been lucky to have lived through all of the best music!,and that means all kinds, ( not too fond of jazz
FREAKING AMAZING. BRINGS A TEAR TO YOUR EYES
👍
You know they are playing with their whole body and soul, when their face twitches around and such. The Legend. The King. The BB. Fantastic!
Thanks for another (yet another!) fine video analysis, Fil. BB King was such an excellent player and singer and he always chose the finest musicians for his band. He was, as you mention in so many words, a complete gentleman - one who had the gift of being able to interact with all different sorts of people at all levels. That, I believe, was how he managed to keep that crowd's attention.
Great reaction thanks for all the info and hard work u rock
Oh dear me...sweet B.B. How I miss him. I saw him live three times, what a treasure. He could play with a crowd's emotions like no other.
A legend indeed!! You literally see the music pouring out of him.
Great, great guitar player and blues singer wonderful performer sadly missed R.I.P. B.B. KING.
Amen.
To me going 100 miles am hour you miss all that's astound you you mis the scenery, but traveling at a slower pace you get to enjoy the scenery. In essence traveling at a slower pace isn't always so bad.
👍
That's a mighty fine way of putting things, great words that should be appreciated by many people.
Another stunning choice and brilliant performance !!!!!!
Terrific! In those days many musicians 'lived' their music, reflecting their times and their social conditions. BB was one of the pioneering greats for sure. Nice to see that the audience was made up of both men and women. I don't know how that was done, but great to see it. Goes back to a time when a $10 meal was an expensive dinner, too!! Love it. God Bless them all.
BB King,
A great example of pure class and talent along with his remarkable loving soul!!!
👍
So. Much. Space. In between the notes. BB, he plays ONE NOTE, and my tears start. Simple but exquisite phrases, and an alternately soothing and powerhouse voice. This, this is my jam. Thanks for reviewing one of my favourite recordings.
No problem!
So much to say and enjoy. Look at his face - he's feeling every note. The gaps between notes - just as important as the notes themselves. Less is more, not flash just soul and feel. This should be compulsory listening for ALL musicians, not just guitarists. Dynamics, feel, this has it all. A delight
👍
Everybody can relate to the blues.
👍
Not 100% sure but I think it was BB King. If I am wrong "have mercy" (Billy Gibbons).
There is a video on which he talks about to enter a venue with mainly a white audience, and he thinks wrong venue, this isn't my audience.
This was just before blues got big and white folks started to appreciate the blues.
Can anybody confirm or deny this?
Mike Hydropneumatic Don't know about that story, but I do remember hearing about the time BB was playing at a black club in Beaumont Tx. called the Raven. There was only one white guy in the place, a tall, skinny, pasty faced kid who kept asking to sit in on guitar. BB eventually relented after confirming he wasn't with the IRS, and that he had a musician's union card lol. The kid strapped on Lucille and proceeded to blow the roof off that juke joint to a standing ovation. BB said to the kid " you've got a future in music kid, what was your name again"? "My name is Johnny Winter Mr. King".
I was at the Fillmore.in San Francisco Bill Graham booked him there.he said it was a start to playing for a whole new audience.
@@mbsnyderc Yes, he even mentioned to the audience. I first saw him there. They had a lot of bands every night, all very different but the audience was accepting of a very wide range of music genre...the whole tradition of booking really diverse acts was started by Chet Helms who later had the Family Dog Ballroom. Where else but San Francisco late 60s would a typical playbill include an 85-year-old acoustic delta bluesman, Blue Cheer(the first heavy metal band), Ravi Shankar(top classical Indian music), Sons of Champlin, Jefferson Airplane, the Turtles and the Grateful Dead....admission $2. White kids were introduced to Delta and Chicago electric blues by these ballrooms. It was hard to believe now since SF has become so expensive to live in now. But back then, it was dirt cheap because you could crash anywhere, and there were low-cost ethnic cafes and food stores. I moved there in 1967 just hours after I graduated mid-term from high school and was not interested in music but that changed quickly after I discovered the nice cliff top apartment I rented across from the Cliff House had the Family Dog directly below at the base of the cliff. Filmore was walking distance. Winterland a bit further and Longshoreman's Hall and Warfield were easy to reach. Not long after, within a couple weeks the musicians learned that I could repair their amps easily being an electronics nerd and that started my long career as recording engineer and studio owner, and designer of equipment. The scene is remembered for music but it was really the birth of alternative lifestyles and philosophies and grew out of the end of the Beats which focused on philosophy, literature, poetry, political philosophy, jazz music, art etc. Later, due to the fame of the Summer of Love, the music and drugs kids from all over the US swarmed into San Francisco, who never had any interest in the cultural aspects of the SF scene, just free love drugs and living for free so the scene deteriorated quickly. Some of us moved north to Marin, for further to Mendocino or down to Santa Cruz of Big Sur. Many many of us ended up in Sausalito, Mill Valley etc that become one of the most expensive places to live in the US. But I was able to rent a large very cool houseboat for $260/month that was large enough for 15-20 people and now it would be $ 15,000/month. My next door(next slip) neighbor was Allan Watts, who was a famous writer and scholar who popularized Zen philosophy. The Grateful Dead moved up there along with Bill Graham, Santana and lots of other people in the music, art, literature and acting fields. Sausalito was just over the Golden Gate Bridge so it was easy to return to SF but must of us did not go often. The scene-based on art and philosophy became rather seedy in SF.
BB King. Direct soul connection and masterful musicianship. You pick up on everything as usual.
The ultimate minimalist. Mesmerizing. Great analysis.
I got to see BB and Bobby Blue Bland new years eve in Dallas about 75 . One of the greatest shows . They used to tour together alot . He was a different player in his younger years.
Cool!
they asked BB if he could play as fast as Vanhalan. He paused for a second, then said "I don't have to" The coolest ever.
B.B. is my all time favorite guitar player and this is my fave performance of his. Magnificence.
👍
Fil, ahhh ! My the King rock in heaven. I was lucky enough to see B.B . King twice in my life before he passed. Thank you for showing him. Cheers !✌
No problem!
B B was a consumate professional. When he made Rolling Stone magazine, it said that if he thought a gig hadnt gone as perfectly as he wanted, hed sometimes cry after the show.
He also stated someplace after hearing a rocker play some fast guitar :"I can play the same thing, but I use fewer notes".
I LOVE your reactions. It is obvious that you are totally into the music and enjoy it so much. I enjoy your analysis of the music and how it is played.
Thanks!
Saw him first on Kenny Rogers old show, Rollin', and BB was having a guitar play-off with one of the First Edition members. Definitely he had a magical stage presence.
Cool!
Absolutely Fil! A strong human being and a strong and complete performer!
👍
The master at work. I bet many of the best guitarists have decided to learn to play guitar after hearing B.B.King.
What I liked most about B.B. King is that when he played with other musicians he elevated their play to way beyond what they were normally capable of. Examples when B.B. King played with U2, Collin James, Tracy Chapman, Tony Bennett etc
When playing with U2 Bono asked BB King what cords he would play in, and BB's response was I don't do chords. He drove U2 crazy because he played what he felt at the time so no 2 performances were the same.
👍
BB King of the Blues. My favorite that tone, wow! RIP his music lives on forever.
Amen.
Hi Fil, great review bud, BB was awesome! I just checked out your song on your website, Paris Nord, and I like it. I plan on getting your album on amazon so I can listen to more. Rock On!
Cool!
BB is awesome - I saw him play once here, with a large band with horns, etc. His solos are very much like a singing voice; emotional, slower with a lot of pitch bending (like a singer would do). And he is a great singer in his own right. Love some of his songs where he has his guitar do call and response to his own voice. And both of those are at the top of the game. Was really sad when passed away.
Cool!
Seen B.B. at The Beacon back in the late 90's, I managed to get right down there front stage and he dropped a guitar pin on the stage for me, (he couldn't really bend down by then) and i still have that pin, a concert T-shirt I bought and that concert ticket stub. 😊
BB has the best vibrato ever. No one comes close. Its so smooth and yet looks effortless until you try it. Rip king.
Amen.
That gave me serious goosebumps!
👍
Yeah this is a good one. A lot of unknown blues guitar players still exist here in Mississippi. There this kid name Kingfish is the future. B.B King. Dewayne Burnside is another local guitar player. His father was R.L Burnside.
👍
Kingfish is pure talent great.
Kingfish will have to lay off those burgers or he won't have any future.
@@dnstone1127LoL
You Right !!! He is one hell of good singer . To hell with his guitar. Imagine him singing in the middle of a pasture with no one hear him but god. That is how he prays.
👍
Good job Phil another professional breakdown of the performance you sound like a football announcer giving play by play you are so damn good at it it's amazing it is spot-on you are the best taking apart a performance and putting it all together so I know exactly what is happening keep it up buddy
Thanks Thomas!
Thanks for your interpretation Fil. Do you have post education in music theory? It would seem so. It’s a nice change to have complimentary critiques of music vs. the negative alternative. Great channel, maybe post more theory on your own original music, your Dokken cover was rock solid. Cheers
Thanks! I've been playing for 24 years, but when I started I learned to play be ear not knowing any theory! After a few years I had worked out a lot of shapes, progressions and scales, then found out what it was all actually called! Learning things back to front really helps with my teaching I think as I can throw in the important theoretical points, without sacrificing fretboard time. I didn't do a degree, mainly because I jammed with a guitarist when I was younger who had just got his degree, and he just couldn't follow the progressions, improvise or feel where the music was going. So I thought I didn't want to end up like that! Having said that, I do teach ABRSM Grades, but I do prefer when someone wants to learn with no grade imposed restrictions. I try to keep these videos less theory based, as I know a lot of people who watch don't even play an instrument. Also the videos would go on for ages and unfortunately I have a very tight window of opportunity in my day to get these videos done. Hopefully that will change one day!
@@wingsofpegasus your background......what I was hoping.....look forward to your analysis of Vince Gill........thanks, catherine.
Pure bliss listening to BB, blinded by the light .
I saw him at the academy of music on 14th NYC is was fantastic. I saw a vid of him breaking a string and changing it in front of the crowd telling a story never skipped a beat
Cool!
I wish I'd have seen B.B. King when he was younger. His playing here is truly outstanding and shows why he's a total legend. I saw him when he toured with Jeff Beck and at that point age and illness and taken their toll (he sat in a chair and talked more than he played). He had one of the best vibratos ever!
👍
I agree that dynamics are important and so many people overlook it. There is an idea in yoga that you are never as relaxed as when you were just tense. Another idea is that you can never be as loud as after you were just being silent. The analogy I use is that if your music is all fast or all slow it is like reading a book that is all exclamation points or all periods. If you don't mix it up it will get boring no matter how exciting you may think it is.
Yep!
This performance is available on the album *How Blue Can You Get? (Classic Live Performances 1964 to 1994)* if anyone is interested.
He makes the notes talk. Also has a Great voice - Gospel. I feel like we are in a hot and humid Southern Baptist church. Have they updated the $10 dinner line in the song?
Haha yeah that's a McDonald's! 😂
BB King had great melodic lines. I was looking at some old BB King live stuff from the late 70's and realized that BB could rip some fast soulful lines, and his voice is as soulful as his guitar playing. I see the folk singer Joan Boaz in the crowd.
👍