He was still playing gigs a year ago? That is fantastic! I pray I get to go doing what I love for so long. I hope Rush gives him some love today.
Yes.. amazing, huh?! And he usually traveled around the country on a tour bus. Check this out:
B.B. King Touring history: 1968-2014 (47 years)
I did hear that B.B. had to cancel some of his more recent shows due to medical issues, but we were lucky to catch him on 4/12/14 in Providence, RI.
My husband and I and several friends started following B.B. over the past 15-20 years. I've lost track how many B.B. King shows we attended. In the past 15 or so years, B.B. would walk on stage, but play Lucille seated in a chair. He would often remark he had diabetes, and that was the reason he needed to sit during the (often quite long) concert.
When we saw B.B. a year ago, he walked out on stage, assisted by two men. They led him to Lucille, and his chair. I'm pretty sure one of those men was his nephew, one of the musicians in B.B.'s band. We could see a glimpse of B.B. backstage... he was mostly transported via wheelchair.
He could still belt out the tunes, even in April 2014! B.B. King's band - led by the great James "Boogaloo" Bolden - was awesome. I would pay to see/hear that band just by itself.
During some of the shows we attended, B.B. talked to the audience more than he sang. He was probably ailing, but you wouldn't really know it. Although we all wanted to hear more songs, it was interesting to hear him reminiscing about his long musical career.
I hope Rush gives him some love today.
So far, I haven't heard any mention of B.B. King yet today on Rush's show.
The guy who subbed for Jim Vicevich this morning ("Sound off Connecticut" on WTIC 1080, Hartford, CT - conservative talk show) was playing clips of B.B.'s music all morning as a tribute. My husband texted me that there's non-stop B.B. King music playing in his company's cafeteria today. :-)
I have Sirius/XM in the car, but haven't heard it yet today. I assume the "B.B. King / Bluesville" channel is going all out...