B. B. King - Play Quotes

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My aunt had a phonograph and when I was a good boy she'd let me play it. Every time I visited she'd want to kiss me. She dipped snuff and I hated that snuff so I begged my mother not to take me and then I'd remember the phonograph and then I'd change my mind. I'd put up with the kiss for the music.

B. B. King

I had begun to notice something about the difference between blues and gospel. A person would ask me to play a gospel tune and when I'd finished they'd say, 'Keep it up son - you'll be good some day,' and pat me on the shoulder, but they would never tip. But guys who would ask me to play a blues song would always tip and maybe give me a beer as well!

B. B. King

I never wanted to be like other blues singers. I might like hearing them play, but I've never wanted to be anyone other than myself. There are a few people that I've wished I could play like, but when I tried, it didn't work.

B. B. King

I knew that it would be tough. As they always say — if you're white and play the blues, you're black once. If you're black and you play the blues, you're black twice.

B. B. King

Jazz is the big brother of the blues. If a guy's playing blues like we play, he's in high school. When he starts playing jazz it's like going on to college, to a school of higher learning.

B. B. King