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B.B. King, 88, is heckled at an awkward St. Louis performance
St Louis Post-Dispatch ^ | 4/7/14 | Daniel Durcholz

Posted on 04/07/2014 8:35:15 AM PDT by raccoonradio

B.B. King has spent decades singing “The Thrill Is Gone.” Perhaps at long last it actually is. Make no mistake: King is a living legend, a national treasure, and the sobriquet “king of the blues” is not mere wordplay, but a title earned. To be in the same room as him and breathe the same air is an honor and a privilege.

But for the majority of King’s concert at the Peabody Opera House on Friday night, the sizeable crowd could have been excused for thinking that’s all they were going to get.

King’s shows in recent years have featured as much talk as playing, and the 88-year-old musician is obviously slowing down, just as anyone would. But the balance slipped way out of proportion at this show. King sat center stage and spoke, sometimes in non sequiturs, sometimes inaudibly. He flirted with women in the first few rows and made a few ribald comments, without apology. “I like to have fun,” he said. “I love who I am and what I do.”

For a while, the audience was with him, laughing at his jokes and asides. But it was 45 minutes into the show before King performed anything resembling a song. Even then, his playing was shaky. He explained that he and the band had been off for two months, causing him to lose confidence.

(Excerpt) Read more at stltoday.com ...


TOPICS: Music/Entertainment
KEYWORDS: americana; bbking; blues; missouri; music; oldgreats; stlouis; vanishingamerica; whatandgiveupshowbiz; wotadragitsgettinold
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To: raccoonradio

Even many years ago I wondered what was going on with B.B. King. You would have thought that such a great guitarist would have more variation and spontaneity in his performances.


21 posted on 04/07/2014 9:04:17 AM PDT by wideminded
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To: raccoonradio

I don’t go to these old bird shows for the performance quality. You go to see a piece of musical history that will soon be gone. Chuck Berry still does shows but no more duck walks from him.


22 posted on 04/07/2014 9:04:31 AM PDT by lodi90
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To: lulu16
it was like the story of his life punctuated by song

I've seen some retrospective (or biographical) shows like this from a number of performers (sometimes even with a slideshow or video montage). Not necessarily a bad thing, as long and the audience understands that's what they are getting. Sometimes it's just a chance to say "so long" or "goodbye".

23 posted on 04/07/2014 9:04:39 AM PDT by a fool in paradise (The new witchhunt: “Do you NOW, . . . or have you EVER , . . supported traditional marriage?”)
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To: raccoonradio
I saw BB from the front row in 1979. I saw him again two years ago. The thrill IS gone.
24 posted on 04/07/2014 9:04:47 AM PDT by mad_as_he$$
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To: mad_as_he$$

Video/Film performances will live on.


25 posted on 04/07/2014 9:05:37 AM PDT by a fool in paradise (The new witchhunt: “Do you NOW, . . . or have you EVER , . . supported traditional marriage?”)
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To: raccoonradio

I just took my daughter to see him March 1st in Salem Oregon. The man played great and I honestly think his voice sounds better now. He was pure class, his stories and jokes were great. He signed guitars for free and even had a young kid join him on stage for a song. Second best concert I have been too right after Robert Plant/Alison Krauss Raising Sands tour in Sweethome Oregon.


26 posted on 04/07/2014 9:06:42 AM PDT by GunHoardingCapitalist (Join me in the world of next Tuesday!)
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To: raccoonradio
I used to watch repeats of "I Love Lucy" year after year until I worked with a guy at a NYC restaurant who told me a story about her.

He was thrilled to get a chance to wait on her and her husband Gary Morton at an upscale restaurant.

When the waiter asked what she would like, her husband said, "She'll have the steak."

"How would you like that done, Miss Ball?" the waiter asked. She never looked up.

"She doesn't speak to the help" said Morton.

I believe this story. She was a nasty piece of work.

27 posted on 04/07/2014 9:07:23 AM PDT by Dr. Thorne ("How long, O Lord, holy and true?" - Rev. 6:10)
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To: raccoonradio

Many years ago, I saw Eubie Blake on the old Merv Griffin show.
Eubie was in his 90s. The interview was painful and he was very confused. Finally, he waved Merv away and said, “Maybe I should just play.”
And he played brilliantly.


28 posted on 04/07/2014 9:08:00 AM PDT by ClearCase_guy
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To: raccoonradio
Caught Les Paul in 1994 with my father. He liked to chat with the audience, but he did play quite a bit and did sets with three guest musicians including a carrot topped jazz violinist, a Japanese physician-guitarist, and an African American jazz singer whose pipes shook the place to the foundation. Arthritis caused him to play with a pick about half the size of a playing card, but again, he still kept the music moving.
He passed away at the age of 94 two years later.
29 posted on 04/07/2014 9:08:34 AM PDT by StarfireIV
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To: raccoonradio

“There comes a time when performers have to realize...it’s not ‘there’ anymore...”

With guys like BB King, there comes a time when the audience needs to just quit being pricks, sit back, and enjoy the 90 minutes of whatever he can give them. And St Louis,,,, Im about 99% sure that I KNOW the problem that night, though it can not be openly named.


30 posted on 04/07/2014 9:09:18 AM PDT by DesertRhino (I was standing with a rifle, waiting for soviet paratroopers, but communists just ran for office.)
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To: raccoonradio

Eeech, Cerebral Flatulence, I saw him with my father in 2008 when he was 92.


31 posted on 04/07/2014 9:09:46 AM PDT by StarfireIV
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To: NFHale
The audience should have had a little more respect; half of them wouldn’t be able to do a tenth of what this man has accomplished in his lifetime.

You're right - thanks for sharing.

32 posted on 04/07/2014 9:11:24 AM PDT by GOPJ (.'Dog Shit' could be sold to 7 million citizens if the IRS fined those who refused to buy it...)
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To: a fool in paradise

At a point, the band behind BB and BB singing is part of the show.

“What the #@$# is James talking about?”

“I don’t know but we’re getting paid, keep singing,”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hLVmw81qDSA


33 posted on 04/07/2014 9:11:53 AM PDT by dfwgator
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To: raccoonradio

Years ago Ella Fitzgerald came to play in Buffalo. The day of the performance I was talking to the critic that was reviewing the show. He said that he had most of the review written before the performance. I opined that this seemed a touch dishonest. He said the woman is 70 years old and the Queen of Jazz. The very least I can do is give her the kindest review possible due a person of her stature.


34 posted on 04/07/2014 9:13:49 AM PDT by verga (Poor spiritual health is often manifested with poor physical health.)
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To: dfwgator
“What the #@$# is James talking about?” “I don’t know but we’re getting paid, keep singing,”

Funny thing is, the way I heard it, the screams, wails, etc. in concert were fines being levied on the musicians for being too loud, out of step, etc.

Fred Cole eventually got tired of James' rules and quit for George Clinton. James would give them the suits but then they'd have to pay for the dry cleaning every show which ate up the gig money they were paid.

35 posted on 04/07/2014 9:14:39 AM PDT by a fool in paradise (The new witchhunt: “Do you NOW, . . . or have you EVER , . . supported traditional marriage?”)
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To: a fool in paradise

Thankfully....


36 posted on 04/07/2014 9:14:57 AM PDT by mad_as_he$$
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To: a fool in paradise

Yep, and James would fine band members for any mistake, he’d give a certain look during the song that told them they screwed up and they were going to pay for it.


37 posted on 04/07/2014 9:17:54 AM PDT by dfwgator
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To: raccoonradio

I saw him perhaps 10 years ago or so.

He still “had it” then. But he spent more time talking than playing.


38 posted on 04/07/2014 9:20:17 AM PDT by sauropod (Fat Bottomed Girl: "What difference, at this point, does it make?")
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To: verga

Someone (Zappa? Van Halen? I don’t recall who) said that music critics often write about themselves more than the musician/album they are reviewing anyway.


39 posted on 04/07/2014 9:20:45 AM PDT by a fool in paradise (The new witchhunt: “Do you NOW, . . . or have you EVER , . . supported traditional marriage?”)
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To: raccoonradio

Bet 99% of the rude ones were those typical self-important 20-something college age pricks, and recent graduates who are told all day long how “important” they are.


40 posted on 04/07/2014 9:22:38 AM PDT by DesertRhino (I was standing with a rifle, waiting for soviet paratroopers, but communists just ran for office.)
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