Saying Good-bye To One of My Most Memorable Characters

It was with great sadness this morning that I read of the death of blues great B.B. King. I had the opportunity to meet Mr. King several years ago when he came to Bangor and it's an evening I will never forget.

Sometimes, being in my business has a few perks. When I heard that B.B. King was coming to the Bangor Auditorium in November of 2006, I contacted the promoter, who was an acquaintance of mine. He not only provided great seats for the four of us, but also backstage passes to meet B.B.

Words can't describe what it's like to see B.B. King in concert. I hope you had the opportunity, because he could make a guitar sing like no one else. Mesmerizing is the only word I can think of. Listening to his music and watching the man play made the rest of the world disappear. There was nothing in your universe except the man and his music.

Celebrity meet and greets are often not what you expect them to be. You get a quick handshake, an autograph, pose for a picture, and then someone is ushering you out the back door. And that's exactly what we expected when we saw how many people were waiting to meet B.B. King. The promoter put us near the front of the line, stating (jokingly) that B.B really wanted to meet us. With so many people waiting behind us, my sons and I were prepared for the handshake-picture-and-go.

But when we got on the bus, we were ushered to the long bench seat at the back of his beautiful bus, sitting behind B.B., who was relaxing in a plush chair. We were told that B.B. wanted to spend some time with us, and so we were to wait. And wait we did. We watched as the King shook hands and signed autographs. And shook more hands and signed more autographs.

Finally, I rose and touched B.B.'s arm, saying that we didn't want to take up space when he had so many to meet. What happened next is something I will never forget. The man who had been so professional changed before my eyes. He didn't shake my hand...he HELD my hand with both of his. He gazed into my eyes and asked where my husband was. I told him that I didn't have one but had brought my three sons. B.B. shook hands with each of my sons and told them to mind and respect me. All the while he was holding my hand.

Something happened at this point between B.B. King and my youngest son that I can't write about here, out of respect for him. It was wonderfully generous and made the jaws of everyone, including his security guards, drop. I won't go into it because B.B. made us promise that we wouldn't speak of it publically. I know...mysterious, right? Let's just say he gave my son something that I'm sure very few others ever received.

Once that was done, I turned to him, put out my hand in order to shake his, and told him we wouldn't take up any more of his time. He, again, took my hand in both of his and lifted it to his lips, and kissed. Then looked into my eyes and said 'delightful.' I don't know if I saw anyone I passed as I walked off that bus, because there were so many stars in my eyes.

Rest in peace, B. B. King. I will never forget our meeting and neither will my sons. You gave the world your music and we are forever grateful. But you gave my family something much more personal - a glimpse of the warm, charming, generous man behind the guitar. And that's something we will carry in our hearts forever. Thank you, sir.