My first encounter with the magic of B.B. King was at the Orpheum in Omaha, Nebraska, when I was just fifteen. Even having seen other blues performances, this concert was different – it was transformative. B.B. King wasn’t just playing music; he was connecting with everyone in the audience on a deeply personal level. His rich, soulful voice would carry us through a verse, and then he’d seamlessly transition to speaking through his guitar, Lucille. It wasn’t just playing notes; it was a continuation of his vocal storytelling. The way he bent those strings and used vibrato was like hearing a voice cry, laugh, and whisper – it was pure emotion translated through his Bb King Guitar.
One thing that always intrigued me was the name he gave his beloved instrument: Lucille. My dad, a guitar enthusiast himself, owned several guitars, but none were ever christened with a name. Naming a guitar, especially one that seemed to sing and speak, felt incredibly personal and significant. It suggested a deep bond, almost a partnership. To this day, I’m fascinated by the stories behind musicians naming their guitars; there’s almost always a compelling, intimate tale attached. When I found my own Gibson SG, I named her Bonnie, after my stepmother who shared my love for Delta Blues and encouraged my slide guitar playing. Though she never got to see me perform, Bonnie is with me every time I pick up that guitar.
But back to the King of Blues and his Lucille. Why Lucille? The story behind the name of B.B. King’s iconic bb king guitar, Lucille, is as captivating as his music. It’s a tale of bravery, a little bit of chaos, and a whole lot of love for his instrument.
As B.B. King himself recounted in interviews, the name “Lucille” originated from a fateful night in Arkansas in the 1940s. He was playing in a crowded nightclub when a fight broke out between two men over a woman named Lucille. In the heat of the argument, they knocked over a kerosene stove, setting the venue ablaze. Amidst the panic and evacuation, B.B. King realized he had left his prized guitar inside the burning building. Risking his life, he ran back into the inferno to rescue his instrument.
After escaping the fire unharmed with his guitar, he learned that the fight was indeed over a woman named Lucille. From that day forward, he decided to name his guitar “Lucille” as a reminder: “to never do anything that foolish again,” as he often joked, referring to running back into a burning building, and also perhaps as a wry comment on the trouble women could cause! But more profoundly, it became a symbol of his dedication to his music and the instrument that was his voice.
The story of Lucille adds another layer to the legend of B.B. King. It’s not just about a guitar; it’s about a relationship, a near-disaster, and a lifelong commitment to the blues. Hearing B.B. King play Lucille was more than just listening to music; it was witnessing a conversation between a man and his soulmate, a conversation conducted through the strings of his cherished bb king guitar. The legacy of B.B. King and Lucille continues to inspire guitarists and music lovers worldwide, reminding us of the power of music and the stories instruments can tell.
