Thursday, October 9, 2014

The First Time I Met The Blues



Since this is my first attempt at blogging, I thought I'd start by letting you know how I got into the Blues music that has been my passion since I was a teenager.
One of my earliest recollections as a child was seeing The Beatles on the Ed Sullivan show. This would have been in 1964, and I was seven at the time (you do the math!). I was immediately struck by the energy and especially by the twangy guitar sound. I begged my parents to get me a guitar, and they rented me one under the condition that I take some lessons. I think I took maybe 8 lessons before "releasing myself under my own recognizance". So basically I don't know what the hell I'm doing and play by ear.
The music on AM radio in the mid-sixties was incredible. We had The Beatles, The Yardbirds, The Animals, The Zombies, and later even some American bands like Creedence Clearwater Revival. The common denominator for me was the guitar playing. The first songs I taught myself on guitar were Secret Agent Man by Johnny Rivers, Little Black Egg by The Nightcrawlers and Dirty Water by the Standells. I can honestly tell you that my taste in guitar styles has not really evolved much since then!
The Rolling Stones were in a class by themselves as far as I was concerned. That was the band that led me to Blues music. I remember a friend of mine's brother played me Mike Bloomfield, and that was another turning point for me. And then another friend gave me an album by Cream. So you see where I'm goin' with this. All roads lead to the Blues.
I can't remember when I first heard his name, but it was definitely uttered in a hushed, reverent tone - B. B. King! And, it was said that if I liked Bloomfield and Clapton that I better check him out. Turns out that B. B. was playing at a North Miami Beach hotel named The Marco Polo for an entire week. This would have been in 1971 or so. And, on the Saturday afternoon there was to be a "teen show" where they closed down the bar and served soft drinks. Some friends of mine and I went to the show, got the front table, and were completely blown away. There was only maybe 30-40 people there. He had a great band too. Sonny Freeman was on drums. He swung his ass completely off. The sticks literally floated in his hands. I also could not help but notice that one of the guys in the band kinda looked like us. Ron Levy was on piano, and he played like an absolute master. Seeing a hippie up there gave me hope as an aspiring Blues musician. Ron and I have gotten to be good friends over the years, and he even remembers that concert! Check out his book. It's really great.
At one point in the show, B.B. broke a string and then changed it while he sang. I was most impressed with that. And I even pulled it off myself on stage once in Louisville (impressing the young guitar player in my band - Oliver Wood!). It has been reported many times that Mr. King handed me his broken string. I'm not sure if it actually happened that way. But, somehow I wound up with it, and I have it still. It is the physical evidence of my Blues Baptism! It's taped to a picture postcard he gave out that night. I also remember that Mr. King hung out in the lobby with us for a long time after the show. He's just a genuine, nice person and a role model for all of us who eke out a living on the road by doin' the deal.
After the concert, I went out and bought his "Live In Cook County Jail" album and his guitar instructional book. I play a Gibson ES-345 because he played one that night. I talk to fans after the show because he does that. I listen to the musicians he mentions in interviews. I adore him.
After that life-changing event, I have seen B.B. in concert many times and even toured as his opening act. Once I saw Howlin' Wolf open for him. That was the only time I ever saw someone even come close to stealing the show from him.



So that's my first blog and my Blues Embarkation story.


Tinsley


www.tinsleyellis.com