Tag: RIP

B.B. King: “Why I Sing the Blues”

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The legendary B.B. King passed away on May 14, 2015 in Las Vegas, Nevada at age 89. As King’s website noted the next morning, “the thrill is gone.”

Much will continue to be written about King’s guitar playing and his influence on music. For me, he has always been there since I first discovered the blues, and he helped introduce me to many other blues musicians from the past and present. He left us many great songs and albums, such as one of the great live albums of all time, Live at the Regal (1965).

When I first picked up an electric guitar, I did not want to play “Stairway to Heaven.” I wanted to play B.B. King’s great memorable opening riff of “The Thrill is Gone.”

And when I think of the way that the blues is a music of comfort that brings joy through troubled times, I cannot help thinking of B.B. King’s performances of “Why I Sing the Blues.” As the singer recounts his troubles but keeps on singing, it somehow never fails to make me smile. Below he performs “Why I Sing the Blues” live in Africa.

RIP B.B.

What is your favorite B.B. King performance? Leave your two cents in the comments.

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    RIP Percy Sledge: “When a Man Loves a Woman”

    Percy Sledge, best known for his performance of the great song “When a Man Loves a Woman,” has passed away at the age of 74. Although there is some difference of opinion about who deserves the most credit for writing the song, Sledge’s performance is what made the song one of the greatest recordings of all time. RIP.

    Not surprisingly, the song often appeared in films, including The Big Chill (1983), The Crying Game (1992), When a Man Loves a Woman (1994), and Platoon (1987). But Percy Sledge also recorded other outstanding songs. One of my favorites is “Take Time to Know Her.”

    RIP Mr. Sledge.

    Leave your two cents in the comments.

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    Ronny Spears: “North of Mexico”

    Texas singer-songwriter Ronny Spears passed away this week on October 20, 2014. Although not as well known as the many of those he performed with, Spears had a genuine Texas sound and the man was admired by those who knew him.

    Spears often collaborated with songwriters like Ray Wylie Hubbard. Most recently, Spears worked with Robby White as part of White & Spears. The duo often performed around north Texas, and as recently as Saturday, October 18 were scheduled to play at Hank’s Texas Grill in McKinney, Texas.

    In the video below from June 2011, Spears appears on “Texas Renegade Radio” on KNON 89.3 FM in Dallas, Texas, hosted by Mark Mundy. Here, he performs “North of Mexico,” which he wrote. If you have never heard Spears, check it out.


    RIP Mr. Spears.

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    Mork and Happier Days

    The world is saddened today by the news that Robin Williams has passed away. He was such a part of our lives that everyone has their own favorite movie scenes or performances, and I cannot add much that you already do not know or that you cannot find elsewhere.

    But Williams is one of the few performers where I remember the first moment I saw him. And I was blown away. As a kid turning on Happy Days, a show that was in its fifth season and showing signs of old age, I suddenly saw something completely new. This strange alien character called Mork and the actor playing him was one of the funniest things I had ever seen. The next day at school, everyone was talking about him and his appearance on the Happy Days episode called “My Favorite Orkan.” Here is a scene with Henry Winkler as Fonzie and Robin Williams as Mork.

    Robin Williams and Mork, of course, got their own spinoff series which I followed until that one went into its own old age. In many ways, I feel Williams and I grew up together, as I enjoyed his juvenile antics but then got to appreciate his more serious adult work in movies I’ve written about in different contexts like Dead Poets Society (1989), Insomnia (2003), and the underrated World’s Greatest Dad (2009).

    It is very sad to hear how he passed, but I am very thankful he lived and gave us so much. Rest in Peace. Na-nu Na-nu.

    What is your first memory of Robin Williams? Leave your two cents in the comments.

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    Blues Legend Johnny Winter Live in Copenhagen

    Blues guitarist and singer Johnny Winter has passed away in Switzerland at the age of 70. During his lifetime, he made some great music, including this wonderful full show from Copenhagen in 1970. Check it out.

    For more on Winter, check out this story on NPR. RIP.

    What is your favorite Johnny Winter performance? Leave your two cents in the comments.

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