Editor’s Note: B.B. King died in May just short of his 90th birthday. I had the great pleasure of seeing him live when he was young, when I was a sophomore in college playing in Columbus. Since that night, I always felt a connection. The son of sharecroppers, Riley B. King grew up in the gospel choirs his grandmother attached him to. The pastor taught him his first three chords on a guitar his cousins bought him. He pioneered electric blues guitar playing with his unique sound and is recognized as one of the best ever. Rather than choosing his more famous “Thrill is Gone” or “Downhearted,” two songs I enjoy covering, I chose his tribute as “Everybody’s Had the Blues” because it’s so true and in this version he rocks out with another legendary electric blues guitarist, Joe Louis Walker (JLW).
Favorite Lyric:
“Everyone's has had it hard at some time
People trying to find a peace of mind
I've been trying, I ain't lying
Trying to find a peace of mind”
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