I grew up loving BB King's music. I was inspired by him and those who were inspired by him (e.g. Clapton). BB King spoke with his guitar, he didn't just play it. His guitar sang to me, and I listened. My grandfather (God rest his soul) was racist, so I wasn't allowed to even listen to black musicians, much less see them. Elvis was on the cusp because he sounded black. My cousins and I snuck down to NYC to see him play in a small club. We were a bunch of white teens who stood out like a sore thumb in this club. It didn't matter, because once BB took the stage, he commanded the attention to everyone there! It was something that none of us had ever experienced at a musical show. It was like being 'brought to church' though none of us really knew what that meant at the time. I bought some of BB's music immediately following the show in a small record store nearby. One of my cousins was playing a cassette of it on the way home on his boom box. My father and mother were OK with me listening to the music, but Chubby Checker and BB King were hidden when grandpa stopped by. One day, when I was rehearsingon guitar, my grandfather asked,? I heard it on an Elvis record, gramps., he said.. Grampa's mind changed with the times, as many men of his age did. When he was in his 70's, he asked, "" I played it for him one last time by his side at the hospital. He leaned over and asked me to give him a hug. He kissed me one last time. He went to heaven that night. I saw BB King many times over the years in many venues. He never knew how much his music meant to me. I can only hope that he's playing up there and that grandpa finally has a chance to see him too.