Take 5 With B.B. King

What can one say about B.B. King? One of the most beloved performers of the late 20th and early 21st Century, He truly was the King of the Blues. Here are five choice performances by him.

First is "Sweet Sixteen," which is what one of his signature numbers was earlier in his career. This is from a performance in Africa.

His recording of a Lowel Fulson song, "Three O'Clock in the Morning," was his first major hit recording.

Another early hit was his recording of "Sweet Little Angel." The song goes back to Lucille Bogan's "Sweet Black Angel," but also was recorded by Tampa Red, and Robert Nighthawk as "Sweet Black Angel." Tampa updated his version as "Sweet Black Angel." B.B. attributed his version to Nighthawk's but changed Black to Little. Again we go to B.B. King's African concert for this rendition of a classic.

Dave Clark's "Why I Sing the Blues," was recorded twice by B.B., with the latter rendition from an album "Live and Well" becoming the well known one and adapted by other performers. Here is his recording from 1969.

Finally, the signature number for the last four decades of B.B. King's career was his updating of Roy Hawkins' "The Thrill Is Gone." Initially, on his "Completely Well" album, this was the recording that crossed him over as an artist. Here he is on Soul Train performing it with Bobby Bland.

Of course, there is so much more B.B. King one could choose, but I limited myself to just five.