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Statement by President Obama on the Passing of B.B. King


B.B. King Performs at the White House Christmas

BB King performs “Merry Christmas Baby” at the National Christmas Tree Lighting ceremony on the Ellipse in Washington, D.C. December 9, 2010. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

“There’s going to be one killer blues session in heaven tonight.”

Washington, DC–(ENEWSPF)–May 15, 2015.  President Obama had the following to say on the passing of American icon B.B. King: 

“The blues has lost its king, and America has lost a legend. B.B. King was born a sharecropper’s son in Mississippi, came of age in Memphis, Tennessee, and became the ambassador who brought his all-American music to his country and the world. No one worked harder than B.B. No one inspired more up-and-coming artists. No one did more to spread the gospel of the blues. 

Three years ago, Michelle and I hosted a blues concert at the White House. I hadn’t expected that I’d be talked into singing a few lines of “Sweet Home Chicago” with B.B. by the end of the night, but that was the kind of effect his music had, and still does. He gets stuck in your head, he gets you moving, he gets you doing the things you probably shouldn’t do – but will always be glad you did. B.B. may be gone, but that thrill will be with us forever. And there’s going to be one killer blues session in heaven tonight.”

Watch B.B. King’s unforgettable performances at the White House — including a duet with the President:

Sweet Home Chicago at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=Z7x4ZS7ZZWc

“Let the Good Times Roll” at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wj6y_6Gr2n8

White House Blog Post by: Tanya Somanader

Source: whitehouse.gov


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