Lessons from a blues legend
By Ray Allegrezza, Editor in chief -- Furniture Today, December 21, 2008
Considering the funk the industry is in, I thought it was a bit ironic when Tom Liddell of Powell called me recently to invite me to a blues concert. But I got excited when I learned that we were going to see B.B. King, the blues great who inspired me to learn to play the guitar decades ago.
What I didn't know was that thanks to some behind-the-scenes maneuvering from some industry friends, we would have the rare opportunity to meet B.B. after the show.
At 83, B.B. is still the King of the Blues, not only as the result of his signature guitar licks, but because of his work ethic and love for his craft.
After the show, we were invited inside the tour bus to meet B.B., who made us all feel like family. On the ride home, I realized that we could all learn a thing or two about success from Riley B. King.
For openers, B.B. never gave up. Hoping to break into the music business, he first came to Memphis in 1946, but found that most of the doors he knocked on were locked. He could have unplugged his guitar and walked away. Instead, he went home to Mississippi, honed his skills and tried again.
He played small gigs year after year. Each gig taught him something new as he listened, learned and continually improved. Decades later, he got his big break when he recorded “The Thrill Is Gone,” written by Roy Hawkins.
While never leaving his roots, B.B. has constantly kept pace with the changing styles of music.
As a result, he is as exciting an entertainer today as he was 50 years ago.
They don't call B.B. the King of The Blues without good reason. Our individual songs should each be that unique!
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