http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/front/4501215.html B.B. King, 81, was hospitalized in good condition at the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston Thursday night, the hospital confirmed. The reason for his hospitalization, which resulted in the cancellation of a scheduled concert at the Galveston Grand Opera House, was not released. Details about a scheduled performance tonight at the opera house were not available. King, a legendary blues musician, was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom last month by President George W. Bush. The nation's highest civil honor recognizes Americans who have made a meritorious or significant contribution to the security or national interest of the United States, to world peace or to cultural or other private endeavors. In announcing the recipients of the Medal of Freedom, the White House noted that: "For more than half a century, King has been known as the "King of the Blues"...and also that he had "influenced generations of guitarists and helped give the blues its special place in the American musical tradition." King's greatest hits include The Thrill is Gone, You Know I love You, Every Day I Have the Blues, and Please Accept My Love. Paco Vargas, whose restaurant, Rudy & Paco, was one of the major sponsors, said King never left his tour bus Thursday. Vargas said King and his band arrived about 6:30 p.m. The restaurant, which is next door to the opera house, had prepared snapper and lump crab meat for King. "I was ready to go and serve the food," Vargas said. "I was delighted. He's legendary." Someone from King's entourage entered the restaurant and said the performer was not feeling well, Vargas said. Two doctors, regulars at the restaurant, happened to be dining there at the time, he said. They left the restaurant and examined King on the tour bus for about 30 minutes, Vargas said. The physicians then made the recommendation that King cancel Thursday's performance and go to the hospital, he said. "I am praying hard to God that hopefully he can make the show tomorrow," Vargas said. "The show is soldout." Vargas said he expected a decision would be made no later than 2 p.m. today. Galveston firefighters at the Central Station closest to the opera house said they did not receive a call about transporting a patient. "We didn't take him. He must have gone by private car," said a firefighter at the station. King was born in Mississippi on Sept. 16, 1925.
B.B. King puts on one helluva show. I'm going to have to listen to "Live At San Quentin" today. He is a national treasure, I hope he gets better soon.
Damn.....I hope he's okay. I had tickets for his show tonight, so I'm really glad I caught him at the Montreal Jazz festival last year. He doesn't get around all that well, but damn......he's still got it.
Bastige! I tried like hell to get tickets, but to no avail. I saw him when he was doing his travelling blues festival about three years ago. Even sitting on a stool, he's still got it. Unbelievable. I hope he makes tonight's show as well. It sounds like it was a mild diabetic thing the way they are describing it. It will be a thrill to see him in a place like the Galveston Grand Opera House. Enjoy!
The key with the Grand is to get a subscription, then you get early notice. It's awesome to get good tickets to people like Willie and Jerry Jeff and B. B. and Robert Earl........but believe it or not, the best show.......year after year.....is Lyle Lovett. I would never consider myself a country music fan (My sirius music presets {that I remember} are alt nation, first wave, and the bluse and reggae channels), but Lyle is incredible.
Channel 2 just said that tonight's show is cancelled. The Grand said that the shows would be rescheduled.
I've had the honor of seeing King 4 times, the earliest in 1984, the latest in 1996. (Then I had kids.) I love B.B. He is the man.
You're right of course. This board is rather urban leaning, and for some strange reason, I felt the need to "apologize" for my music tastes. Probably just insecurity on my part.
Hope he is OK. My dad and uncle love his music and constantly remind me it is something I'll never understand.
