B.B. King
is surely the most famous of the living blues guitar
legends. The fame hasn't come easily; at over 75 years
of age (born September 16, 1925) King still stays on the
road constantly, playing as many as 250 shows a year.
King's signature aggressive vibrato and his minimalistic
approach make the guitarist's music immediately
identifiable. A few short details will give you great
insight into how B.B. King sounds like he does. Many
guitarists, if they were to play a blues in G, would
tend to think of riffs around the 3rd fret on the
guitar. B.B. King approaches this differently; the
guitarist works around the note G on the second string,
which is at the 8th fret. He plays the G with his first
finger, and plays ideas off that (try, for example,
playing the 10th fret with your third finger, and
bending it up to the 12th fret).
The following is a classic example of B.B. King. It is
the first four bars of a blues in Bb. It includes a
short introduction, which you'll want to learn in all
keys.
Robert Lockwood Jr. 1915 - 2006
It
is with a heavy heart that I announce the passing of blues
legend Robert Lockwood Jr. Robert passed away Tuesday
November 21, 2006 at the age of 91. Robert had been
hospitalized for the better part of a month.Robert's legacy is his music, a style which melded jazz and blues. Robert was the most direct link to Robert Johnson. It was while Robert was 13 that Robert Johnson taught him to play guitar. A short time later the world lost Robert Johnson, in 1937.
Robert Lockwood Jr. worked with all of the greats in blues and jazz. His first band was comprised of all jazz musicians. This helped to shape the style that was to become his legacy. While he learned from the jazzmen they learned blues. Eventually the styles melded into the Robert Lockwood sound.
Robert played on recordings by Doctor Clayton, Little Walter, Sonny Boy Williamson, Eddie Boyd, Sunnyland Slim, and Otis Spann. He also spent time in the Muddy Waters Band. He once tried to teach both Muddy Waters and Big Bill Broonzy his style but they were more comfortable with what they knew.
Robert will be missed by those of us who love his music and his legacy in music will last for eternity.
Rest in Peace Robert....
