BB King - The Thrill Is Gone - Live In Africa '74

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.

[@NathanMarchack]

The thrill will never be gone hearing BB King's music.

[@coldacre]

Nathan Marchack true brother, true.

[@mervinacecollado8418]

Coldacre yjghcheufifkjfkjfufjfý

[@josephdecarlo1262]

Nathan Marchack His soul will never die! It still gives me goosebumps.

[@phenixreturns]

The ultimate guitar tribute ! kzbin.info/www/bejne/Z3fdp5x8aMZqm7M

[@catboyzee]

As far as I'm concerned, the Gibson ES-355TD-Walnut BB played during the early 70s as well as on this iconic performance will always be THE look and sound of Lucille. The tone, the touch, the elegance of the guitar, its all right here.

[@Vahnchelsea]

Agreed. The rasphy and crunchy sound produced by ES 355TD combined with BB King's finger tone vibration was the most priceless live sound ever produce by BB and his previous Lucille lineup.

[@andyhayes7828]

​@@VahnchelseaEddie Hazel (rip) used the same model guitar, except in cherry on Funkadelics studio version of 'Red Hot Mama' .....those guitars definately have as much TONE as I've ever heard 👍

[@xStabizorz]

​@@andyhayes7828TOAN TOAN TOAN

[@ghfdt368]

One thing I love about this entire concert and this song you can hear how professional every member of this band is behind BB. Drums and precussion did a fantastic job driving the song,the bass quietly being the glue and being exactly on point, The Piano playing a subtle but brilliant driving rhythm with chords adding some cheeky melodies and turnarounds careful not to get in anyones way, while the sax gets adventureous and plays some melodies but is careful to compliment and stay out of BB's way. Then Larry Carlton puts in some really tasteful and clever hits on the guitar just to add to it and let the other instruments carry the song, the true sign of a musical mastery on display here.

[@donaldthomas3445]

Boy, thanks for really laying it out.

[@matthewmoss1589]

One of the finest guitarists, few people can match his vibrato. Great man, great loss

[@TheSainterman]

Not just an awesome guitarrist, he's also a great singer

[@TheRunner75]

This concert is really top-notch, full of blues energy, excellent singing, excellent guitar and excellent brass section.

[@alllovelost56]

Agree Soul Power Zaire Afrika 1974, til death do us part. My fav performance is Celia Cruz and the fania all stars "quimbara" 🖤

[@PabloCruise91]

BB King makes that guitar weep and sound so sweet.

[@jaynellioriginal5160]

He sho’ do!!

[@waladnajd143]

🎶🎶🎶🥰🎸👑🎸🥰🎼🎼🎼🤙✋️من عمالقة عالم الفن والموسيقى والغناء ومن أجمل وأحلا وأفضل وأروع أغاني الطفولة والزمن الجميل والفن الراقي والصوت المميز والجيل الذهبي لي الفنان القدير بي بي كينغ ولها ذكريات جميلة جدا 🎉جدا 🎉أيام التعليم والحب الحقيقي 🎉

[@billreid818]

BB King was a national treasure. If they're gonna put another head on Mt. Rushmore, this is the man.

[@napynap]

BB King is the greatest bluesman of all time!

[@alexrolfe707]

properly one of the best instrumental performances ive ever seen...

[@kwaka599]

If you ever have the thrill of seeing BB KING live it will remain as one of the greatest concerts you will ever attend .

[@DirtyBob200X]

Amen to that!

[@AbbottSupreme]

Rip BB King !!! "When you've got Mr. BB King on the stage and you say to yourself....you can't omit the master, when it comes to the blues there's no other than that blues brother" James Brown's words honoring the late, great master BB King !!! #bbking #thethrillisgone #lucille #ripbbking

[@rohanroll]

There's moments you can't tell if he is playing or singing. Because when he played, it was like singing, and when singing, it was like he was playing. BB's own words. The same discourse, the same flow. The unmatchable genius of the king of blues guitar, and sure enough, one of the biggest blues singers too. No other than BB King. This performance of TTIG is absolutely mesmerizing. He reaches heights of excellence and emotion that no one ever, before or since, as been able to even take a far approach. We were lucky enough to have BB King in our lives. Smile.

[@Hannibal953able]

R.I.P. Mr King. You will be sadly missed.

[@volkeregner2720]

that guy was a genius and will truly be missed.

[@davidlipman1582]

RIP brother. It was a pleasure sharing this earth with you good man Mr. King.

[@unknownjohnson6137]

The true KING!!! Never to be forgotten - RIP

[@josephsanangelo]

Bless B.B. always. Seeing him in concert a few times was bliss. Heaven only could hold your great heart and music.

[@dlyonsish]

possibly the best entertainer of all time............great voice supreme guitar playing and great stage presence..............

[@ryanshitgrinner4445]

Absolutely brilliant, a blues legend in his prime.

[@MoritaDaichi]

Forever B.B.King from Japan. May you play forever in heaven with 2 Blues King.(Albert and Freddy) I'll never forget your sweet voice and beautiful guitar tone. Thanks a lot .

[@soerenguitarlessons9947]

these performings in Arica are my favorite BB King "recordings". He is at the top as a man guitarist and vocalist here. Sooo good! thanks so much for loading

[@thedragonofthewest5789]

same. Just discovered them but I'm loving them. BB King plays with pure emotion

[@jeffreybilkanich2886]

My all-time favorite from the King of the Blues

[@pornis90]

You made cry. with this great performance. This is the way I want to remember B B King doing what he did best, ENTERTAINING. Some guy can play guitar but he was an entertainer. Greetings from Buin, Chile.

[@royfulton]

With a young Larry Carlton in the background on rhythm guitar. Excellent stuff. Thanks you.

[@johnzenger7880]

S-T-U-N-N-I-N-G The very definition of music.

[@drearydeary563]

Tasty licks, killer tone, powerful voice, captivating stage presence. There's nothing better than this.

[@briguy986]

Joey Diaz podcastville brought me here. Greetings!

[@fredorona1977]

My favorite version of this song. Amazing performance. Gave me goosebumps!

[@coldacre]

BB, you may be gone, but the thrill will always be here when we listen to your music.

[@bobbyhorner1271]

Born in '61. The 70's were my formative years. Grew up to Zeppelin, Floyd etc. Never realized it all came from the blues. I do now. Long live the King ......

[@fredpheiffer181]

Lovely up-beat recording of "The thrill is gone" to celebrate this sad day. The King is dead. Long live the King!

[@markjones1253]

B.B. is free and probably feeling great being able to play in Africa and with a great band. Many great versions. This is one of them. God Bless you B.B. RIP!

[@3rdPlaya0709]

This is the definitive version! His later performances were pretty week and I see comments drooling over them. Now this is the legendary BB king right here!

[@justinx_x3439]

So glad youtube exists to hear a blues legend like bb king himself, to be able see and hear him live too almost feels like I'm actually there...

[@summerbreeze495]

The Thrill will NEVER be gone listening to BB King's music. Love this spin on it! #YESYES!

[@KarenJohnsonKJPR]

Long live the King. Rest in splendor, beautiful B.B.

[@bluelipbeaver]

I defy anyone on earth to say they don't like this. B.B. will always be the best. Always!

[@KvllaKvngg]

Lucille brung it on home at the end... #classic performance

[@liamhemmings9039]

Unless there are overdubs, to me this is one of the greatest performances ever.

[@Themintpartnership]

RIP BB King. God bless you on your journey home, BB King. Gone yet never forgotten.

[@weskitten]

BB King: the Boss of the Blues, 1925-2015

[@irecoman1]

BB king is an all time great, cant help but being happy listening to his music

[@fender363]

The trill has gone... May gary moore,,stevie ray an bb jamming together now. I hail you bb king.. Thank you for your life and music. Bless you! Thomas from norway

[@princebonnie1357]

When We Were Kings 🤴 Incredible soundtrack. Muhammad Ali had some badass musicians to accompany him in Africa!

[@JonKenzieLive]

Long live the king! Thank you for all the wonderful music, passion and soul :)

[@AIRFLYPARKOUR3]

Ese sonido tan dulce que me pone la carne de gallina, le tengo mucho aprecio a este hombre por su forma de tocar, por eso me emociono cuando ver sus espectaculos en este día muy triste.... Descanse en paz maestro del blues...!!!!! GRACIAS BB. KING!!!

[@NachsitzenDubstep]

The King of Blues! Really sad, now you gone, but I will Thank you for the wonderful time and Music that you have shared with us. We will never forget you Mr. B.B KING!!! rest in peace

[@gknews69]

Thanks...so many memories of a great SOUL.

[@alllovelost56]

Excellent LIVE performance... 5am, in bed, in Mississippi, chilling 🖤

[@CrooningForLeftovers]

The King of the Blues has gone Home, but the thrill remains !! R.I.H., Riley B. King (1925~2015). Prayers goin' up ^^^^^^^. He was a kind and generous man whose talent scorched through our lives and across musical history like some massive, blazing blue comet. We need no further reason to feel blue today ...

[@sarahlagerman8107]

sadly this stuff will never be around again. what a slice of life it must have been to be alive back then. B.B. is the the King to me.

[@elultimo7716]

The Thrill will never be gone- RIP BB

[@JuanCamaney1982]

De interpretation of this song in Africa is one of the rhythm I've heard in my life

[@truthfinder4973]

sick clean setting and nothing butt tube amp and he so smooth with it sounding like that wow thats why his name is king he a king

[@gringopig]

What a tone he had. He started using Gibson L series amps and they had the compressor he liked but the tone of the Fender twin here is super! We would all be lucky to live the life that BB King lived.

[@ccfliege]

I really am not the kind of guy to look at such things, but does anyone else see how well the looks how his guitar fits his suit?

[@AmDsus2Fmaj7Am]

Every now and then I'm walking around the house going ... "Thrill is gone .... " I miss him

[@FoundationalAmericanBadass]

Him and Lucille (his guitar's name) my grammy was named Lucille, so is my mom and sister... 🔥🔥🔥

[@ShaneOBrien]

As a long time fan of B B King's records and Cd's plus attending at least five different performances of his, this is awesome. As a musician with plenty of my own attempts at authoring and performing music, this is the benchmark of all-that and more. When I play this video, it's nothing less than ten times or more in a row. So much fun to play along to as well.

[@Earlvis]

Holy Smoke 💨 That is the most driven version of that I’ve ever heard (Got Wood) and now I’m going for my guitar 🎸

[@FernandoRodriguez-vt9jm]

Gracias hermano por hacerme conocer a este gran músico , fue una noche larga y una gran caminata y hablando de todo esa noche escuchando al más grande bbking y una papa en la garganta fue hermoso ese viaje

[@Thevolumex]

great,. And Jose Feliciano had a fantastic cover too

[@JustLiamK]

Rest in Peace, BB; the King of the Blues

[@martytdd1606]

Awesome! My favourite version, one of my 'go to's' 👌

[@hulldanfan]

Wonderful version. With Larry Carlton depping on rhythm just for this show as he was in Zaire performing with the Crusaders when they needed a replacement. I believe that Joe Bonamassa and his band performed this version at the BB King tribute show.

[@ivanof]

Fantastique Mr BB KING

[@user-ue8vd8vz7r]

The King is gone, although he still lives on.. Happy birthday Mr. King,

[@ShaneOBrien]

Oh Yes Indeed. B B King plays with the magic an artist dreams of capturing in a lifetime. His messages are clearly one coming from a true Gentleman/Musician and a King... I'll be a forever student in his music and nature..

[@VonArx_]

Hes called the king of blues for a reason

[@jackwills5444]

The best blues guitarrist,Rest in peace.

[@mikeynikey7908]

just saw the elvis movie, elvis was great but we need a movie about BB King, over 50 years on the road playing the blues and perhaps the greatest artist of the genre.

[@ibelushi]

RIP, Lucille will be lonely

[@RedMissou]

Absolutely beautiful, but to me, Montreux 93' is on another level

[@pauloluciomachadodebrito8107]

He was definitely having the time of his life every second of it

[@rjasontwenty1099]

this is the main reason i want to play the blues so bad..

[@benzflynn]

One of his best live renditions of this. I'd hate to be a horn player for BB - the tempo changes so unpredictably. No wonder he brought a band leader on this _cultural exchange program ovah theah_ 😁 !

[@googleuser2609]

Everything about this is amazing.

[@difernandez981]

Absolutamente incrivel!!!! Som de arrepiar""""""

[@junglistrob]

RIP B.B. King

[@ShaneOBrien]

The story behind this recorded video is priceless as well. A truly great read very well done. Thank You.

[@romoman17]

did see him in Los Angeles four years ago. best concert-decision ever made

[@AndranikAzizbekyan]

@robert19962010 HAD a brown guitar. Before "Lucille", I think

[@cecioland67]

Chapeau !!!

[@GhostRider_237]

I want to cry because I can love the blues

[@DS-yg4qs]

Wow. Just wow. No present artist is not even close.

[@clementinemoriarty7454]

But NEVER forgotten! RIP!

[@thealmightycommenter]

I never been a fan of this style of music before ;") but this song converted me . Any other people i should listen to

[@julialeetimphony1537]

that is a smokin' track. thanks for posting it.

[@jabez36]

im so glad hes still aliveee forreal

[@jameskennedy721]

One his best shows . WOW .

[@prohircsi]

Köszönjük! Nagyon jó!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@listyspisty]

the break down at the end, just amazing!

[@FrankieSayRelaxxx1]

Wow he looks so young and energetic here, and he was already 49!

[@kjchicago1]

He Played A 1974 Gibson ES-355 "Rumble in the Jungle" Electric Guitar

[@30indhira]

blues the most amazing creation by black americans ... luv it luv it luv it!!

[@KingYahshua]

long live the king.

[@cindycav4037]

Thank you for sharing, its great!

[@antoniocossignani9756]

bb king remember today is day your die 89 old years master sound blue in 05.15.2015 rest in peace i listen the thrill is gone best guitar i like