After the first few months of operation, The Rock Pile began to feature Blues bands every Sunday night, and some of the greatest living legends of The Blues played on that stage.
B.B. King was and still is a very dynamic performer. His voice, guitar playing and stage presence were always first class.
During the late 60's, the Blues made a big impact on young audiences at the time, and, in retrospect, we were very fortunate to hear so many of these great artists in their prime.
B.B. could grab your attention with a simple music lesson.
In the middle of his set, while his backup band played a slow groove, B.B. would get into one of his stories about playing the Blues. After describing how the Blues had crossed the ocean to reach the ears and hearts of young musicians everywhere, he would say to the audience, 'Some of you might think the Blues sounds like this.'
B.B. would then crank up his amp and rip into a solo that would make Eric Clapton blush. He would wind out at maximum volume for a minute or so and then bring it to a sudden halt. The audience would react with a standing ovation and an outburst of spontaneous applause.
B.B. would then say, 'But the Blues really sounds like this', and he would play just two notes at a very subdued volume, his classic 'Doo Doo.' I have no other way to express B.B.'s minimal two-note trademark, but those of you who know what I'm talking about know the notes and the tone. The audience would then let out a collective sigh of humility, as the master had just shown us the way to purity and understanding.
It was a truly Zen moment.