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We talk a lot on HN about 'doing what you love' This was a man who, against all odds, truly did that. For most of his life he was playing over 300 shows a year

We talk a lot on HN about 'doing what you love' This was a man who, against all odds, truly did that. For most of his life he was playing over 300 shows a year and even this year when he was ill he played over 100. Very sad he's gone and I never had the opportunity to hear him sing live.

wavegeek 11y ago
One slight tweak to the "doing what you love" meme: BB reported in an interview years ago that he started off busking Gospel music. He found that lots of people came up and patted him on the head and praised him but no-one put any money in his hat. So he switched to blues. Blues fans gave him the thumbs up and put money in his hat. The rest is history.
- k-mcgrady 11y ago
  I remember that. I think the point was that the people who were supposed to be good (i.e. gospel fans) would listen but not pay him any money. The blues fans (and at the time I believe a lot of people considered that the devils music) did. I think it was just more of a humorous point than a serious point about a career decision.
- sdrothrock 11y ago
  This is actually also in the obituary linked here. There's no way it's anywhere near as superficial as he makes it sound -- that's definitely just self-depreciation. I can't imagine anyone working that hard to teach, work with, and publicize other bluesmen simply because it brings in more money, especially at his age/wealth. Joe Bonamassa sticks out in my mind as one of the people BB King really worked with.
  - spike021 11y ago
    I don't know the history, so I could be wrong, but maybe when he explains that he means he did it as a way to sustain himself (and family I'd assume), rather than it being better-paying just for the money. It could be that it started for that reasoning and then later once the style had become his life, he stuck with it. Again, could be completely wrong so take of that what you will. Just my opinion.
- Angostura 11y ago
  Ah, a man who knows how to pivot.
Bahamut 11y ago
That makes two of us - I missed being able to see Gary Moore live, and now B. B. King :( .
- k-mcgrady 11y ago
  Likewise. Gary Moore was my introduction to the blues and I never got to see him live.
- declnz 11y ago
  I feel blessed to have been able to see both of them live, even just once, and even before I knew much about Gary Moore (he was supporting someone else), but was truly moved by Still Got the Blues live. Of course you never appreciate this as much as you do once they're gone. May they both rest in peace.
- 72deluxe 11y ago
  I got to see Moore but missed King - my friend went to see him but didn't tell me about the tour! Gutting. Moore's blues songs are a million times better than his rock era, IMHO. Some nasty-sounding guitar tone there. Additionally, King did very well to keep playing the blues over such a long period of time. If you listen to the songs from the 80s you can hear that he had to adjust (slap bass / boosted treble bass, round squishy synths and massive reverbs, horrible tom sounds) but he did well to carry on playing the blues through it and come back to a more traditional (normal!) sound afterwards. Interestingly, he never played chords!
  - soperj 11y ago
    He didn't really have to... 80s was the Stevie Ray Vaughn era, and there was none of that in his music.
  - ZenoArrow 11y ago
    "Moore's blues songs are a million times better than his rock era, IMHO. Some nasty-sounding guitar tone there." Say what you want about the tone, but watch this and tell me his 80s playing isn't superb, I dare you! ;-) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KFUW621lgXY https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KFUW621lgXY BB deserves a good send off. I don't know what to say, other than thank you for everything you did for the guitar, and for music, and for being a top bloke. I didn't know him personally but love how generous and charming he was in this video (some stunning playing by Derek Trucks too): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SS0NHlWgi5w https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SS0NHlWgi5w
bootload 11y ago
"I never had the opportunity to hear him sing live." I did. You missed one of the greats. There are many other great singers, songwriters and artists you still can see. He light the stadium with his sound and smile.

wavegeek 11y ago

One slight tweak to the "doing what you love" meme: BB reported in an interview years ago that he started off busking Gospel music. He found that lots of people came up and patted him on the head and praised him but no-one put any money in his hat. So he switched to blues. Blues fans gave him the thumbs up and put money in his hat. The rest is history.

k-mcgrady 11y ago
I remember that. I think the point was that the people who were supposed to be good (i.e. gospel fans) would listen but not pay him any money. The blues fans (and at the time I believe a lot of people considered that the devils music) did. I think it was just more of a humorous point than a serious point about a career decision.
sdrothrock 11y ago
This is actually also in the obituary linked here. There's no way it's anywhere near as superficial as he makes it sound -- that's definitely just self-depreciation. I can't imagine anyone working that hard to teach, work with, and publicize other bluesmen simply because it brings in more money, especially at his age/wealth. Joe Bonamassa sticks out in my mind as one of the people BB King really worked with.
- spike021 11y ago
  I don't know the history, so I could be wrong, but maybe when he explains that he means he did it as a way to sustain himself (and family I'd assume), rather than it being better-paying just for the money. It could be that it started for that reasoning and then later once the style had become his life, he stuck with it. Again, could be completely wrong so take of that what you will. Just my opinion.
Angostura 11y ago
Ah, a man who knows how to pivot.

Bahamut 11y ago

That makes two of us - I missed being able to see Gary Moore live, and now B. B. King :( .

k-mcgrady 11y ago
Likewise. Gary Moore was my introduction to the blues and I never got to see him live.
declnz 11y ago
I feel blessed to have been able to see both of them live, even just once, and even before I knew much about Gary Moore (he was supporting someone else), but was truly moved by Still Got the Blues live. Of course you never appreciate this as much as you do once they're gone. May they both rest in peace.
72deluxe 11y ago
I got to see Moore but missed King - my friend went to see him but didn't tell me about the tour! Gutting. Moore's blues songs are a million times better than his rock era, IMHO. Some nasty-sounding guitar tone there. Additionally, King did very well to keep playing the blues over such a long period of time. If you listen to the songs from the 80s you can hear that he had to adjust (slap bass / boosted treble bass, round squishy synths and massive reverbs, horrible tom sounds) but he did well to carry on playing the blues through it and come back to a more traditional (normal!) sound afterwards. Interestingly, he never played chords!
- soperj 11y ago
  He didn't really have to... 80s was the Stevie Ray Vaughn era, and there was none of that in his music.
- ZenoArrow 11y ago
  "Moore's blues songs are a million times better than his rock era, IMHO. Some nasty-sounding guitar tone there." Say what you want about the tone, but watch this and tell me his 80s playing isn't superb, I dare you! ;-) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KFUW621lgXY https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KFUW621lgXY BB deserves a good send off. I don't know what to say, other than thank you for everything you did for the guitar, and for music, and for being a top bloke. I didn't know him personally but love how generous and charming he was in this video (some stunning playing by Derek Trucks too): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SS0NHlWgi5w https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SS0NHlWgi5w

bootload 11y ago

"I never had the opportunity to hear him sing live." I did. You missed one of the greats. There are many other great singers, songwriters and artists you still can see. He light the stadium with his sound and smile.