Riley King, better known as "Blues Boy" King or "B.B." King, a name he got from an early stint as a blues deejay on Memphis WDIA is the greatest, post war, non-Chicago Bluesman. B.B. King perfected a style of very sophisticated blues guitar playing that was very distinctive, eventually landing him in the Rock n Roll Hall Of Fame. Playing his signature guitar "Lucille", his style was very fluid, with a shimmering vibrato that was a model for many Rock n Roll players that followed in his wake.
"The Thrill Is Gone" was written and first recorded by Roy Hawkins. It was ironic that B.B., who wrote hundreds of songs, had his biggest hit with a tune written by another but, such is life. "The Thrill Is Gone" was the first RnB song to feature a string section which provided a moody counterpoint to B.B.'s poignant soloing. Reaching number 3 on the RnB charts in 1969, while hitting #15 on the Pop charts, "The Thrill Is Gone" was a throwback in it's bluesy vocal and soloing, while looking forward with B.B.'s sleek string experimentation. The late 60's were a time when any style of record could be played on AM Top 40, and many of those records charted high on the Billboard Charts. We are unlikely to see this kind of eclectic mix of records on the charts anytime soon!
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