Columnist Joe Delaney: Tracing King’s career beyond Beale Street

Joe Delaney

Friday, March 26, 1999 | 10:51 a.m.

B.B. King, Bossman of the Blues, and "his best band ever" are appearing at the House of Blues at Mandalay Bay tonight and Saturday. ... We first met in Memphis, Tenn., in the late 1940s. ... King was a disc jockey on WDIA-AM, a 50-watt station, the first in the south with all black on-air personnel. ... At that time, he was known as the Blues Boy from Beale Street, later shortened to the more manageable B.B.

He was born Riley B. King in Itta Bena, Miss., not far from Indianola. ... B.B.'s early vocal influences were Gene Autry and Roy Rogers, "because you could understand every word they sang."

Blues great T-Bone Walker was a prime guitar influence, along with jazz virtuoso Charlie Christian. ... King's cousin, Bukka White, was another contributor. ... Most of his early jobs around Memphis found King working solo, accompanying himself on the guitar.

His radio days

King's radio sponsor was a tonic called Pepticon, which had a cherry flavor and a high incidence of alcohol. ... It didn't cure anything but if you drank enough of it, you didn't care for a while. ... King sang along with the records and the listeners complained, so he just played along on the guitar and the complaints stopped.

Memphis was home base for great musicians, but they didn't like to work with B.B. because he had played solo guitar so long, resulting in key and tempo changes that would come as a surprise to the others in the group. ... It took some time for him to correct this problem. ... Today, B.B.'s band ranks with the best in the business.

It was in 1952 that King had his first record hit, "Three O'Clock Blues." ... There were chart records but the next No. 1, a pop crossover hit, "The Thrill Is Gone," came 18 years later, in 1970.

Ambassador B.B.

With the death of Louis Armstrong in 1971, King became this country's Musical Ambassador to the World. ... Since then, B.B. has averaged 300 or more concerts a year, performing on five continents. .. In 1982, his album, "There Must Be a Better World Somewhere," won a Grammy, and earned him a W.C. Handy Award as Blues Entertainer of the Year.

This year, B.B. received his 20th Grammy nomination for "Deuces Wild" in the Best Blues Contemporary Album category. ... On the Feb. 24 CBS telecast of the 41st Grammy Awards, King and his close friend, Eric Clapton, performed B.B.'s classic standard, "Rock Me Baby."

Every summer I can count on a card or letter from B.B., mailed while he is appearing in Dublin, Ireland. ... King and Bono and the U2 band members are friends. ... King has toured with U2 and they have exchanged CD appearances. ... King has a current TV ad for Merrill Lynch.

King, concluded

During this half-century, King has achieved superstar status, achieving still another peak several years ago as a Kennedy Awards honoree. ... Those who watched remember when Las Vegas' Joe Williams sang as part of B.B.'s tribute. ... Williams and King, both Hall of Fame performers, had competing versions on "Every Day I Have The Blues."

B.B. told us that "Joe's version won." ... In all these years, B.B. has never lost his common touch, his innate modesty is intact, as well as his concern for all human beings. ... He has worn his richly deserved acclaim and success very well. ... He is a good and true friend.

If you are fortunate enough to have tickets for the House of Blues concerts tonight or Saturday, and have never experienced an evening with B.B. King, you are in for a special treat. ... Like his good friend Joe Williams, King is another person proud to call Las Vegas home.

Friday addenda

Both Luxor hotel-casino attractions, "Imagine" and Bill Acosta's "Lasting Impressions," have had their options picked up and each will continue through September and, almost certainly, even longer. ... It's good to hear that Shecky Greene is working in Atlantic City's Resorts International as we type this and that some LV Tropicana dates are being discussed.

Musically, one of our town's best buys is the $20 tab for Steve Lippia with the magnificent Vincent Falcone 22-piece orchestra in the Rio's RioBamba Room. ... Your ears and good taste buds will thank you. ... See you next Thursday.