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"Most Beautiful Day Of My Life," B.B. King Says After Ceremony At MS Capitol
WLOX (Biloxi, MS) ^ | 02/15/05 | AP

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.


TOPICS: Culture/Society; News/Current Events; US: Mississippi
KEYWORDS: bbking; blues; haleybarbour; lucille; mississippi; music; tribute
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A very heartwarming story.
1 posted on 02/16/2005 8:11:07 AM PST by bourbon
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To: WKB; MagnoliaMS; MississippiMan; vetvetdoug; NerdDad; Rebel Coach; afuturegovernor; mwyounce; ...

(((MS PING)))


2 posted on 02/16/2005 8:12:27 AM PST by bourbon (You see me here, and yet I am already changed, already elsewhere.)
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To: bourbon

I saaw BB perform a few years ago at his club in NYC. He was still outstanding, and he gave us more than our money's worth -- he must have played for three hours. He also used his American flag guitar strap and made some patriotic remarks that made some in the lefty crowd uncomfortable, so I admired him even more. Bless his soul.


3 posted on 02/16/2005 8:15:16 AM PST by speedy
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To: bourbon

Neat! I really like his music!


4 posted on 02/16/2005 8:15:57 AM PST by Sunshine Sister
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To: bourbon

5 posted on 02/16/2005 8:16:12 AM PST by facedown (Armed in the Heartland)
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To: bourbon
The state House and Senate declared Tuesday to be B.B. King Day.

Do we get the day off work? Congrats BB King.

6 posted on 02/16/2005 8:16:37 AM PST by stainlessbanner
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To: bourbon
I have seen a lot of musicians live who were a sort of disappointment. BB King is the only musician I saw live and who was as good or better than his recordings. His band is outstanding and he is the MOST!
7 posted on 02/16/2005 8:16:50 AM PST by SMARTY ("Stay together, pay the soldiers and forget everything else." Lucius Septimus Severus to his sons)
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To: bourbon; wardaddy
He graciously indulged the requests, even signing a candy-apple red Fender electric guitar

The Muddy Waters Telecaster!

8 posted on 02/16/2005 8:17:48 AM PST by Mr. Mojo
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To: bourbon

B.B.King ~ Bump!

The Thrill Is Not Gone!


9 posted on 02/16/2005 8:18:17 AM PST by blackie (Be Well~Be Armed~Be Safe~Molon Labe!)
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To: bourbon
Glad to see B.B. getting some well deserved recognition. So many of the blues greats have gone, (John Lee Hooker, Muddy Waters, Luther Allison, Stevie Ray Vaughn), that it makes me happy that B.B. is not only still around, but that he is appreciated.

Thanks for a very nice post.

Best Regards

Sergio
10 posted on 02/16/2005 8:19:04 AM PST by Sergio (If a tree fell on a mime in the forest, would he make a sound?)
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To: bourbon

Man, I love listening to BB King. 'Specially at about 3 am on a hot, rainy night. Something about it...


11 posted on 02/16/2005 8:19:09 AM PST by theDentist (Jerry Springer: PBS for White Trash)
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To: bourbon

"A very heartwarming story."

Agreed....thanks


12 posted on 02/16/2005 8:21:16 AM PST by Arpege92 (Mr. Kerry, you are a jerk!" - Pat Sajak)
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To: bourbon

Cool...


13 posted on 02/16/2005 8:21:29 AM PST by StoneColdGOP (Warning: Not being an open-borders RINO can be dangerous to your FR health.)
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To: bourbon

Couldn't happen to a finer gentleman IMO. I saw him in concerts about 12 years ago and he was awesome, as was his band.


14 posted on 02/16/2005 8:22:39 AM PST by opus86
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To: bourbon

How do the "racial arsonists" respond to this beautiful statement by a G-d fearing man, moved by the progress made in our country over the years?

This is a good man who appreciates how far we've come instead of whining how far we still have to go.And in so doing, he doesn't incite anger against our institutions, but gratitude toward them. G-d bless him.


15 posted on 02/16/2005 8:25:46 AM PST by Zivasmate (" A wise man's heart inclines him to his right, but a fool's heart to his left." - Ecclesiastes 10)
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To: Mr. Mojo
Who wants to take a guess on what Lucille is worth? I bet when B. B. goes to his rewards (and I hope it's a long ways off) that guitar will bring a King's ransom. ;-)
16 posted on 02/16/2005 8:26:10 AM PST by reagandemo (The battle is near are you ready for the sacrifice?)
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To: bourbon

I too, saw B.B. a few years back. An awesome show. Here's to you, Mr. King! Best wishes!


17 posted on 02/16/2005 8:27:29 AM PST by bullseye1911 (Not as good as I once was, but as good once as I ever was!)
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To: SMARTY
The U2 song I like the best is "When Love Comes To Town," with BB King playing and singing. "Baby, I was wrong to ever let you down, but I did what I did before love came to town."
18 posted on 02/16/2005 8:27:50 AM PST by 7thson (I think it takes a big dog to weigh a hundred pounds!)
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To: SMARTY; Sergio

BB's touring schedule has been pretty unbelievable for the past 10-15 years, considering that he is pretty old and that he was diagnosed with diabetes some years back.


19 posted on 02/16/2005 8:29:37 AM PST by bourbon (You see me here, and yet I am already changed, already elsewhere.)
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To: reagandemo
Who wants to take a guess on what Lucille is worth?

Doesn't matter, Clapton will end up with it. Rumor has it he bought the George Harrison guitar that went to auction at Sothby's just recently. Clapton has the most vast collection of guitars (with provanance) in the world.

20 posted on 02/16/2005 8:30:45 AM PST by bullseye1911 (Not as good as I once was, but as good once as I ever was!)
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