B.B. King Sued by Former Manager July 15, 2009 – Did you know that B.B. King made a $100 million in the last decade? The Blues legend is known for his non-stop touring and huge popularity. According to King’s ex manager he is part of the reason for that wealth and he wants his fair share.
Floyd Leiberman has worked with King since 2000 and is suing for $1.5 million. He claims the guitarist simply didn’t pay him his due. The disclosure of King’s assets only came out after this lawsuit but who says the Blues don’t pay no cash? Of course B.B. King is one of a few exceptions in this format. He continually gets played on not only Blues and Jazz stations but some AC outlets still play “The Thrill is Gone.”
We will keep you updated on this one.
– by John Beaudin
BB King Frustrated Over Lack of Airplay June 10, 2009 – You can be the best musician in the world but until that world hears you no one will buy your records. That seems to be what BB King is saying. The Blues legend does not have many regrets after 6 decades in music but lack of airplay is certainly front and center.
He told MusicRadar, “I’d be a fool if I didn’t think it was frustrating. But I’ve never been lucky getting airplay.” Considering his huge discography it’s almost a crime that most people can only name one song from his career – “The Thrill is Gone.” King says, “The only other time I was really helped was with Thrill is Gone. All the other tunes I recorded may have sold as many, or gone over well. But I know I never got radio coverage.”
The 83 year old goes on to explain the problem with the Blues is lack of mainstream appeal and the fact that most Blues shows are late on Saturday night and “like a lot of people I ain’t no vampire.”
King is set to perform with another legendary Blues guitarist, John Mayall, later this month in the UK. – by John Beaudin
BB King and John Mayall Tour Dates
24/06 Mancehster MEN Arena – buy tickets
25/06 Birmingham NEC Arena
27/06 Cardiff International Arena
28/06 Wembley Arena, London
B.B. King Club Helping the Unemployed Dec. 22, 2008 - Suze Orman won’t help you out of the credit crisis but maybe B.B. King can. The famous guitarist has slashed prices at the B.B. King Blues Club in New York. With so many losing their jobs and homes maybe going to a concert is at the bottom of most everyone’s list but at half price, who knows?
In February the club will cut evening concert prices by 50%. Here’s the catch. You must be unemployed. It’s a cool gesture anyway. Management announced that if you present an unemployment check and photo ID at the box office you’ll get in half price.
Here’s the line-up for February; Angie Stone, the Cannabis Cup Reggae Band, Ralph Stanley, Maxi Priest, Broadway Underground and Blackstreet, among others. – by Kari Graham
BB King and John Mayer Added For Grammy Nominations Concert Nov. 18, 2008 – Even folks who don’t believe in the Grammy’s agree the performances can go big! No exception for the Grammy Nominations concert to be held Dec. 3.
So far the bill includes Foo Fighters, John Mayer and B.B. King for the show at Nokia Theatre L.A. It will be broadcast on CBS. Hosts for the nominations show include Mariah Carey, LL Cool J and Taylor Swift.
Proceeds from the evening will go straight to the Grammy Museum in L.A.
The 2009 Grammy’s will be held Feb. 8. – by John Rohn, Story courtesy of Rock History Book.com
B.B.
King, Al Green, Etta James Joining Forces for
Summer Tour April
3, 2007 - The king and queen of the Blues will
entertain together this summer as the two embark
on a 14 city tour of the U.S. that will also
include Al Green and Joan Osborne. (Click
for Tickets) King who is 81 years old is
also scheduled to tour Canada solo in May and
plans more dates near years end. Expect Robert
Randolph and James Hunter on selcted dates.
- Kari Graham
BB
King Keeping the Pace at 80 July
21, 2005 - Legendary bluesman BB
King will celebrate his 80th birthday
this September and is still going strong.
He is set to launch a new tour, and is in
the process of recording an album of duets
whose guests will include Elton
John, Gloria Estafan, and Eric
Clapton. The guitarist also recently
broke ground on the BB
King Museum and Delta Interpretive Center
on the site of cotton gin where he used
to work as a child. The 10 million dollar,
18,000 square foot project will house a
state of the art theatre and studio, and
feature memorabilia showcasing King's career.
More important to the legend however, is
the hope the center will offer to poverty
stricken youth trying to break the cycle
of poverty and illiteracy in Mississippi.
King, who now lives in Nevada, worked from
age 7 picking cotton in the Delta in order
to help his family make ends meet, and is
an inspiration to many. His single note
playing style is clean, lyrical and simple,
and the elegance of his playing sets him
apart. King and Lucille (his guitar) still
perform up to 150 dates a year. His world
tour kicks off later this month in Holland,
and the new album, which King says won't
be all blues, will be released before his
birthday in September. - by Cheryl
Philips
2005
Jazz Journalist Association Awards May
30, 2005 - BB
King's Bar and Grill will be the site
of the June 14th 2005 Jazz
Journalist Association Awards. In its
9th year, the awards will honour excellence
in Jazz journalism and Jazz Music. Nominees
for Lifetime Achievement in Jazz include Roy
Haynes, Lee Konitz, Sam Rivers, and Hank Jones.
Musician of the Year Nominees are Dave Douglas,
Dave holland, Joe Lovano, and Brantford Marsalis.
Visit http://www.jazzjournalistsawards.com/m_nomineesframe.html for other nominees and categories. BB King's
is located at 237 W. 42nd street in New York
City. - By Cheryl
Philips
BB
King Gets Statue April
13, 2004 - When it comes to tributes it doesn't
get much better than turning to stone. BB
King's hometown of Indianola, Mississippi
wants to honor the Blues legend with a statue.
Officials say it will be the first thing you
see on entering the BB King Park and it should
be ready for unveiling when the BB King Museum
opens next year. To raise funds for the statue
organizers are selling twenty-five dollar
bricks and three hundred dollar business slates.
As for the design three artists have been
asked about ideas ranging from King standing,
sitting or simply playing his guitar.
B.B.
King Wins Sweden's Polar Music Prize October
17, 2003 - He isn't called the King of
the Blues for nothing! BB King who has
been recording since the fifties has just
won Sweden's Polar Music Prize for his
contribution to music. The special award
was founded in 1989 by Stig Anderson,
manager of ABBA, through a donation to
the Royal Swedish Academy of Music. King
will travel to Sweden in May of 2004 to
collect the prize which consists of more
than your usual trophy. It comes with
cash! $130,000 (U.S.) to be exact. King
has been recognized for a "total
dedication to his music, a rich recording
history and tireless touring."
Itinerary
For The B.B. King Music Festival July
13, 2003 - Like many specialty summer music
festivals the B.B. King Music Festival has
decided to forgo the genre specific tag
of "Blues" and expand its boundaries.
Though the Blues moniker is gone fans can
still expect to hear plenty of Blues at
this year's 12th annual event. As previously
reported legendary bluesman B.B. King will
be at every stop of the tour as well as
Jeff Beck. For a different flavor organizers
have added New Orleans-based progressive-funk
group Galactic and Florida soul-blues band
Mofro, two groups that are gaining fans
among jam-band aficionados, round out the
bill. According to festival promoters, King
will showcase selections from his new album,
"Reflections."
B.B.
King Festival Expands its Boundaries May
20, 2003 - Blues guitar legend B.B. King
will hit the road again this summer with
his Festival tour for the 12th straight
year but this time around the sound will
be expanding. In previous years the Festival
was billed as the B.B. King Blues Music
Festival but this year the "blues"
has been dropped from the title. Confirmed
acts include another guitar god - Jeff Beck
plus jam bands Galactic and Mofro will open.
King who turns 80 in less than three years
is still very active performing over a hundred
shows a year.
Review Policy - Smooth Jazz Now.com believes money
does not buy a positive review. The music world is filled
with magazines and websites that will play you, or positively review you if you buy advertising. That's
not what we are about. It's a little thing called credibility.
If you want to advertise with us, we welcome you and will
do our very best to make sure anyone who visits this site
will know your name, but we won't guarantee you a positive
review. If you work with a magazine that gives you these
guarantees remember it's your reputation that's on the
line, they've already sold theirs. - John Beaudin, President,
Smooth Jazz Now.com
Sacramento Loses Their Smooth Jazz KSSJ 94.7 March 5, 2010 – Smooth Jazz has gone dark in Sacramento. Entercom Communications, owners of Smooth Jazz KSSJ 94.7 FM pulled the plug on the station this week. More
Now 3 Chances to Win “Classic Smooth Jazz 6 Packs” February 27, 2010 – Smooth Jazz Now wants to thank you for listening. Starting Monday March 1st listen for your name andyou could win some of the biggest albums in Smooth Jazz history. More
In Conversation with U-NAM on his latest CD ‘Unanimity’ February 23, 2010 - French Smooth Jazz guitar sensation Emmanuel Abitebol, more known as U-NAM, came to fame with his widely acclaimed somophore album ‘Back from the 80’s’ released in 2007. More
Sade Is Queen Again February 23, 2010 – The new Sade album is kicking some serious butt on the charts. After a 10 year break the sultry singer is back on top of the Billboard Album Charts with “Soldier of Love.” It sold over 500 thousand in its first week of release. More
Record Numbers of Votes Registered for the 6th Annual Canadian Smooth Jazz Awards February 22, 2010 – The annual Canadian Smooth Jazz Awards ballot count ending last Friday (Feb. 19) reflects a dramatic increase in voter interest. Awards co-chair, Mary Kirk, of Wave 94.7FM says, “Thank you to the huge number of fans from all over the world who took time to send in their ballots.” More
In Conversation with Paula Atherton February 19 - 2010 - Smooth Jazz female sax players are not numerous, but there is a collection of talented performers such as Candy Dulfer, Jessy J and Paula Atherton among others. Mrs. Atherton does not only perform sax and other horn instruments, she is also a consummate singer. Read the interview
July 15, 2009 – Did you know that B.B. King made a $100 million in the last decade? The Blues legend is known for his non-stop touring and huge popularity. According to King’s ex manager he is part of the reason for that wealth and he wants his fair share. 
June 10, 2009 – You can be the best musician in the world but until that world hears you no one will buy your records. That seems to be what BB King is saying. The Blues legend does not have many regrets after 6 decades in music but lack of airplay is certainly front and center.
Dec. 22, 2008 - Suze Orman won’t help you out of the credit crisis but maybe B.B. King can. The famous guitarist has slashed prices at the B.B. King Blues Club in New York. With so many losing their jobs and homes maybe going to a concert is at the bottom of most everyone’s list but at half price, who knows? 
Nov. 18, 2008 – Even folks who don’t believe in the 
October
17, 2003 - He isn't called the King of
the Blues for nothing! BB King who has
been recording since the fifties has just
won Sweden's Polar Music Prize for his
contribution to music. The special award
was founded in 1989 by Stig Anderson,
manager of ABBA, through a donation to
the Royal Swedish Academy of Music. King
will travel to Sweden in May of 2004 to
collect the prize which consists of more
than your usual trophy. It comes with
cash! $130,000 (U.S.) to be exact. King
has been recognized for a "total
dedication to his music, a rich recording
history and tireless touring."
July
13, 2003 - Like many specialty summer music
festivals the B.B. King Music Festival has
decided to forgo the genre specific tag
of "Blues" and expand its boundaries.
Though the Blues moniker is gone fans can
still expect to hear plenty of Blues at
this year's 12th annual event. As previously
reported legendary bluesman B.B. King will
be at every stop of the tour as well as
Jeff Beck. For a different flavor organizers
have added New Orleans-based progressive-funk
group Galactic and Florida soul-blues band
Mofro, two groups that are gaining fans
among jam-band aficionados, round out the
bill. According to festival promoters, King
will showcase selections from his new album,
"Reflections."
March 5, 2010 – Smooth Jazz has gone dark in Sacramento. Entercom Communications, owners of Smooth Jazz KSSJ 94.7 FM pulled the plug on the station this week. 
February 27, 2010 – Smooth Jazz Now wants to thank you for listening. Starting Monday March 1st listen for your name andyou could win some of the biggest albums in Smooth Jazz history
February 23, 2010 - French Smooth Jazz guitar sensation Emmanuel Abitebol, more known as U-NAM, came to fame with his widely acclaimed somophore album ‘Back from the 80’s’ released in 2007. 
February 23, 2010 – The new Sade album is kicking some serious butt on the charts. After a 10 year break the sultry singer is back on top of the Billboard Album Charts with “Soldier of Love.” It sold over 500 thousand in its first week of release. 
February 22, 2010 – The annual Canadian Smooth Jazz Awards ballot count ending last Friday (Feb. 19) reflects a dramatic increase in voter interest. Awards co-chair, Mary Kirk, of Wave 94.7FM says, “Thank you to the huge number of fans from all over the world who took time to send in their ballots.” 
February 19 - 2010 - Smooth Jazz female sax players are not numerous, but there is a collection of talented performers such as Candy Dulfer, Jessy J and Paula Atherton among others. Mrs. Atherton does not only perform sax and other horn instruments, she is also a consummate singer.