At 80, B.B. King proves to Convo Center audience his fingers can still fly

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Reviewed by Renee Messacar - Staff Writer DeKALB - His hair might be grayer and his walk slower, but B.B. King's fingers can still fly. The musical legend proved during his performance Thursday night at Northern Illinois University's Convocation Center that he's still the King of Blues. He stopped in DeKalb as part of his "B.B. King Blues Festival and 80th Birthday Celebration Tour." King turned 80 on Sept. 16. King's band members guided him to a chair and helped set him up as he thanked the audience for "waiting for an old man to get out of bed." But he showed his vitality through his limber fingers, which stroked note after bending note out of his guitar "Lucille." His voice, roughened with age, only fit the blues sound better as he belted out the high and low notes and sang his hit "The Thrill is Gone." Saxophones, flutes, guitars, drums and trumpets accompanied his guitar. Some of the performers have been accompanying him for years, King said. From the chair where he sang, danced, played guitar and told jokes, he boasted about his age and shared the wisdom he's gained through the years, such as that men should treat their women well because women are a gift from God. King said he's never seen a woman who wasn't beautiful - he's seen some that weren't pretty - but never one who wasn't beautiful. He admitted he still loves to watch the ladies. Among the ladies watching him Thursday was his daughter, Shirley King of Chicago, who was backstage with some of his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. King said his opening acts, Joe Bonamassa and Kenny Wayne Shepherd, were like family, too. Bonamassa was a child prodigy, learning to play a full-scale guitar at age 7, performing local shows in upstate New York by 10 and being asked to open for a King show when he was 12. He released his solo debut album in 2000. The thin man in his 20s with shaggy brown hair offered a blues and rock sound but also played riffs reminiscent of classical violin. He was followed on stage by Shepherd. Shepherd was born in Shreveport, La., and began playing blues as a child after listening to people like King, Jimmy Vaughan and Albert Collins. He recorded his first album while in high school in 1995. He said he's known King for years and considers him a father figure. Shepherd held the audience rapt with one of the first songs he wrote, which he said is the "best way for me to express myself." Standing alone at the center of the stage with blue lighting surrounding him, Shepherd quickly worked his fingers over the guitar, creating a sound filled with longing, mournfulness and honesty. He couldn't have expressed himself better if he'd used words. When he finished, the crowd erupted in cheers and gave him a standing ovation. A woman rushed to the stage and reached out to Shepherd, who shook her hand before security guards ushered her away. The audience varied in age from children to college kids to elderly couples. King got them all involved by teaching them lyrics to his songs and asking them to sing along. They clapped in time and sang along with "When Love Comes to Town." At times during the night, the musicians' words were lost among the accompaniment and echoes in the large center, but the audience continued to clap and sway to the music. They moaned when King said it was time to go - three and a half hours after the show had started. Before shaking audience members' hands, throwing souvenirs to the crowd and signing autographs, King sang of how he doesn't know you, but loves you. And the audience left believing it. Renee Messacar can be reached at rmessacar@daily-chronicle.com.