BB King - Ain't Nobody Home - Live In Africa 1974

gravityworld.tv...
B.B. King Live In Africa '74 is a rare - extremely rare - intimate view of
B.B. King in concert. At age 49, having "crossed over" to wide popularity with his show
at the Fillmore West in 1968 and secured his fame with the 1970 hit "The Thrill Is Gone,"
B.B. stands onstage before Muhammad Ali and a crowd of 80,000 on the continent his
ancestors left in chains and gives one of the most thrilling performances of his life. "The
King of the Blues" (B.B.), "Soul Brother #1" (James Brown) and other African-American
artists on the bill reveled in the return to their cultural motherland for a gala affair that was
attended by fans and journalists from all over the world.
The backstory around this perfonnance is rich. Behind B.B. is a large orchestra,
made up of core members ofB.B.'s touring band - pianist Ron Levy, drummer Sonny
Freeman and saxophonist Bobby Forte - plus studio musicians recruited (mostly) from
New York, including renowned session guitarist Larry Carlton. Directed by Hampton
Reese, B.B.'s longtime friend and musical tutor (you'll see him in his plaid sport coat
conducting the band), this collection of musicians achieved their amazing performance
after a single rehearsal in Kinshasa. Hampton wrote the charts for all the songs in the set,
and every musician was playing from those charts.
Of the musicians who played that concert from B.B.'s 1974 touring band, only
Ron Levy is still living. Here are some of his recollections of the unforgettable trip to
Zaire (now the Democratic Republic of Congo) and their historic performance there:
To perform in Africa - the land of his ancestors, at this stadium event before
80,000 - plus crazed, hot, sweaty, dancing and bouncing heads and soulfully
pained hearts -- must have had a very special personal significance for B.B.,
as it did for us all. We all realized this was not just another gig. It was history,
good history. We were all very proud to be a part of it. As far as the set went,
we performed 8.B.'s most famous hits. I have to say, this was probably the
first lime this crowd ever heard - or heard of - B.B. King. but as usual he
left them wanting more, as well as an indelible memory of his sincere personal
passion and deep-felt blues.
He definitely connected with them like the beloved king he is. If you're a
B.B. King fan, you are in for a rare treat with B.B, King Live in Africa '74. If this is
your introduction to the King of the Blues, you'll understand why he is so loved the
world over.
-Charles Sawyer
Charles Sawyer is the author of the first biography of B.B. King.
The Arrival Of B.B. King (Doubleday 1980, Da Capo 1982),
He teaches ""History Of Blues In America" at Harvard Extension School,
and leads his own blues band, 2120 South Michigan Avenue.

[@kwameaboagye121]

B.B King with his guitar Lucille with his classic Ain’t Nobody Home. The Rumble of the Jungle forty eight years ago George Foreman and Muhammad Ali in Kinshasa. B.B. King blues singer and musician of all time. RIP

[@chanmyers8116]

Awhhh... BB...my moms favorite bluesman and an old friend of hers from his performances in Houston's nighclub in 5th ward The Three Sisters back in the 50s. My mom used to always say....I knew BB back when he was much smaller!! Precious Memories...I remember the stories. RIP Mother!!!

[@gabechristensen9187]

Oh B.B. Lucille is your heart! You have touched my heart when you sat next to me at B. B. Kings Blues Club on Bealle st. And said "uh, uh, uh girl if I were a hundred years younger...." You will never be forgotten! Blues on Baby, You the man!!

[@petreyarchives]

I absolutely love this song. It's probably the most underrated classic of B.B.'s career, IMO.

[@mattw3608]

RIP BB King. One of my all time favourite songs.

[@kathwoodstock]

IS, not, was one of our greatest. He is still alive...and Africa is a continent. Who doesn't know that?

[@retrothingz]

Great song . BB had a beautiful voice. Could listen to him speaking for ever. Must have been a cool DJ when he was on radio

[@amangaer]

Yes, it was from Rumble in the Jungle, but B.B. released his own recording of the concert called Live in Africa.

[@machupicchupvp1579]

R.I.P my friend.

[@cooldork68]

The great Larry Carlton playing rhythm guitar in this.

[@xAlphaGoatx]

what a perfect orchestra :O

[@GUITARSGIZMOS]

Can you spot the other guitarist in the line up? Quite a famous one also...

[@manoelich]

Que buen tema!! gracias por subirlo!

[@discoverydavid]

All these videos should be titled 'Rumble in the Jungle' because this music festival was the run up to Muhammad Ali and George Foreman's world heavyweight fight...many people won't put the two together. This footage is from a documentary film called 'Soul Power.' Give credit were credit is due...and keep people happy.

[@GravityLimited]

@fidiricu92 At the soccer stadium it was then Kinshasa, Zaire

[@benabdel6237]

Ah those Horns powerful...

[@josephkiritsis6631]

THE KING

[@chasm57]

Boy, if you can get Larry Carlton to play rhythm guitar that is SOMETHING!! ;-)

[@loganmarx3621]

omg hes not sitting down lol fit in the good old days he was i wana no if theres a documentry on him any 1 no?

[@PATRICELUMUMBAS]

viva congo 1974

[@oliveriozapata3910]

la vieja guardia

[@lucasmartinez4859]

Hahahahaha surely yes man!!

[@aissafr]

fo who asked about where exactly in Africa , the answer is Kinshasa

[@rexxgarvin5313]

Who is the guy directing the Band?

[@paulmichaelmorgan7134]

this concert was to raise money for the ali-foreman fight because don king offered them both money to fight that he never had in the 1st place

[@chanmyers8116]

Wow...didnt know that. Same year i was born. As i'm told Don King is ruthless!

[@Mike33326]

ha, you're from USA?

[@amangaer]

Unfortunately, it was just plain damn stupidity.

[@Scarpdaddyballs]

Whos the guy singing backup or whatever