B. B. King, besides being a pick that's a tip o' the hat to all the Blues greats, is a selection that will be with us for decades.
The frenetic finger wizardry that passes for 'expertise' among the boys with glitter in their voluminous hair will likely fade, but the self-assured, patient style that B.B. King perfected has and will influence generations of those playing guitar.
.................................
Each band or performer is graded on four things:
1. Innovation
2. Influence in my life--as a typical American
3. Integrity: the band's approach to music (just making a buck or honing a craft?)
4. Immortality--am I, a typical American--still eager to hear their music
8/2/5/3 = 18 out of a perfect 40
...................................
Amazing: King has lived most of his life on the road; 250-300 concerts a year, for about as many years as I've been alive; and his appeal cuts across musical genres: for example, he opened for the Rolling Stones on their 1969 tour of the US.
A favorite: his collaboration in 1988 with U2 on "When Love Comes To Town".
No comments:
Post a Comment