The legendary B.B. King was born on September 16, 1925. Inspiration Mississippi Magazine proudly named Mr. King the Most Inspirational Mississippian in our 2016 publication. In honor of his birthday, we are thrilled to share incredible artwork of Mr. King by H.C. Porter and an inspiring article with you today!
He was a tremendous talent. With a beautiful roar in his voice and fingers that effortlessly slid along his beloved guitar strings, Riley B “B.B.” King became one of the most influential artists in the world. For decades, The King of the Blues tirelessly charmed fans. Each night, B.B. King would sit down, lean back, tap his toes, and begin to play. His music could set your soul on fire.
The Mississippi native picked cotton as a child, and had a warm and gentle spirit. Orphaned at a young age, King was raised by his maternal grandmother. He taught himself to play guitar, and strummed the Blues on the street corners of Indianola. He was like an old friend,” reflects Allan Hammons, who serves on the Board of Directors of the B.B. King Museum and Delta Interpretive Center in Indianola. “I think that served him well through life.”
Mr. King’s Blues are riveting. You can sense pain, sorrow, and joy wrapped into one song. “He was a tremendously talented musician, a gifted singer and phenomenal guitar player. Eric Clapton once called him ‘The Grand Master,’” recalls Hammons. “I became very fond of Mr. King. Once you met him, you felt like you had known him forever. He was so down to earth it is almost hard to describe. The only thing I knew greater than his talent was his humility.”
Hammons met King in 2007, while building the B.B. King Museum. One particular memory stands out in Hammons’ mind. He and Mr. King were riding along with a few friends, listening to Riding With the King, a record featuring duets with Eric Clapton. “It dawned on me. We were actually riding with the King,” Hammons laughs. “When I asked everyone what we were doing, they all seemed confused. I said, ‘Come on, we are riding with the King.’ B.B. fell out laughing with a big old belly laugh,” reflects Hammons. “He was just one of us, and he liked it that way.”
“I don’t think there is a more humble person you will ever meet,” reflects attorney and friend, Carver Randle. Randle was born in Indianola in 1942, and spent much of his childhood fascinated with Mr. King, watching him getting in and out of his car. The two finally met in 1978 and quickly became friends. “He warmly related to his audience from the stage, but individually, he was even more down to earth. Having a coke or meal with him, you got the impression that he was a tremendous man with a very pleasing personality, who could relate to anyone.”
Carver had an experience with Mr. King that left him in tears. “We went down to Bossier City to see him perform. I went backstage and said hello, but when the show started, I took my seat in the audience with my wife and family. Mr. King came out and started his concert, but all of a sudden, he completely stopped the band and stared out at the sea of fans. He spoke into the microphone, and said his lawyer was here from his hometown. He asked me to come down front, shook my hand, said a few words, and asked the people to give me an applause,” marvels Carver. “Here I was admiring him, and this world-renowned man stopped his show and asked people to give me a hand. I sat back down and could not control my sobbing. It was truly the dearest moment I have ever experienced.” The audience erupted in a thunderous applause, seeing how highly King regarded Carver. He sweetly says, “That moment stays with me. That is just the kind of person he was.”
King won 15 Grammy awards, the Presidential Medal of Freedom, and a Kennedy Center Honor. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1987, and granted a coveted star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1991. Even with his extraordinary success, King never saw himself as a celebrity. He could not fathom that people actually loved listening to his music.
Dion Brown served as the past Executive Director of the B.B. King Museum, and came to the job without knowing King. However, Brown quickly viewed King as family. “He was a father to all of us,” smiles Brown.
For over three decades, King returned to Indianola and gave a homecoming concert for his adoring fans. “One year, he played for Homecoming, then gave a private concert at the museum. Then Mr. King went to a club and played until 2:30am. Instead of leaving, he shook every hand of those 300 fans in the audience, and had a personal conversation with each person. Who else does that?” says Brown. “It was so important for him to give back to his community. Everybody who met Mr. King had a great story.”
Mr. King passed into eternity just months shy of his 90th birthday, but he leaves behind an incredible legacy. “He has inspired me tremendously. My attitude, disposition and outlook on life are similar to his. No matter where I go or what I accomplish, I will always try to be like B.B.,” says Randle.
Brown concurs. “To be in the business as long as he was, you cannot find anything negative about him. That is a testament to his character. I miss him. I miss his friendship. I really and truly miss him. Just like the world does.”
{Artwork by H.C. Porter. See more of H.C. Porter's incredible Blues @ Home series here! Article by Mitchell Walters}
The Mississippi native picked cotton as a child, and had a warm and gentle spirit. Orphaned at a young age, King was raised by his maternal grandmother. He taught himself to play guitar, and strummed the Blues on the street corners of Indianola. He was like an old friend,” reflects Allan Hammons, who serves on the Board of Directors of the B.B. King Museum and Delta Interpretive Center in Indianola. “I think that served him well through life.”
Mr. King’s Blues are riveting. You can sense pain, sorrow, and joy wrapped into one song. “He was a tremendously talented musician, a gifted singer and phenomenal guitar player. Eric Clapton once called him ‘The Grand Master,’” recalls Hammons. “I became very fond of Mr. King. Once you met him, you felt like you had known him forever. He was so down to earth it is almost hard to describe. The only thing I knew greater than his talent was his humility.”
Hammons met King in 2007, while building the B.B. King Museum. One particular memory stands out in Hammons’ mind. He and Mr. King were riding along with a few friends, listening to Riding With the King, a record featuring duets with Eric Clapton. “It dawned on me. We were actually riding with the King,” Hammons laughs. “When I asked everyone what we were doing, they all seemed confused. I said, ‘Come on, we are riding with the King.’ B.B. fell out laughing with a big old belly laugh,” reflects Hammons. “He was just one of us, and he liked it that way.”
“I don’t think there is a more humble person you will ever meet,” reflects attorney and friend, Carver Randle. Randle was born in Indianola in 1942, and spent much of his childhood fascinated with Mr. King, watching him getting in and out of his car. The two finally met in 1978 and quickly became friends. “He warmly related to his audience from the stage, but individually, he was even more down to earth. Having a coke or meal with him, you got the impression that he was a tremendous man with a very pleasing personality, who could relate to anyone.”
Carver had an experience with Mr. King that left him in tears. “We went down to Bossier City to see him perform. I went backstage and said hello, but when the show started, I took my seat in the audience with my wife and family. Mr. King came out and started his concert, but all of a sudden, he completely stopped the band and stared out at the sea of fans. He spoke into the microphone, and said his lawyer was here from his hometown. He asked me to come down front, shook my hand, said a few words, and asked the people to give me an applause,” marvels Carver. “Here I was admiring him, and this world-renowned man stopped his show and asked people to give me a hand. I sat back down and could not control my sobbing. It was truly the dearest moment I have ever experienced.” The audience erupted in a thunderous applause, seeing how highly King regarded Carver. He sweetly says, “That moment stays with me. That is just the kind of person he was.”
King won 15 Grammy awards, the Presidential Medal of Freedom, and a Kennedy Center Honor. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1987, and granted a coveted star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1991. Even with his extraordinary success, King never saw himself as a celebrity. He could not fathom that people actually loved listening to his music.
Dion Brown served as the past Executive Director of the B.B. King Museum, and came to the job without knowing King. However, Brown quickly viewed King as family. “He was a father to all of us,” smiles Brown.
For over three decades, King returned to Indianola and gave a homecoming concert for his adoring fans. “One year, he played for Homecoming, then gave a private concert at the museum. Then Mr. King went to a club and played until 2:30am. Instead of leaving, he shook every hand of those 300 fans in the audience, and had a personal conversation with each person. Who else does that?” says Brown. “It was so important for him to give back to his community. Everybody who met Mr. King had a great story.”
Mr. King passed into eternity just months shy of his 90th birthday, but he leaves behind an incredible legacy. “He has inspired me tremendously. My attitude, disposition and outlook on life are similar to his. No matter where I go or what I accomplish, I will always try to be like B.B.,” says Randle.
Brown concurs. “To be in the business as long as he was, you cannot find anything negative about him. That is a testament to his character. I miss him. I miss his friendship. I really and truly miss him. Just like the world does.”
{Artwork by H.C. Porter. See more of H.C. Porter's incredible Blues @ Home series here! Article by Mitchell Walters}
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