“The Thrill is Gone” – B.B. King

The legend may be gone yet the thrill will never be gone. This is nowhere more evident than the B. B. King Museum and Delta Interpretive Center in Indianola, MS. One step inside the museum and we realized what an icon B. B. King was, and still is today.

Beginning with the film depicting King’s life to his final resting place and everything in between, the museum is full of artifacts. However, there is more to the museum than artifacts, it is also filled with the spirit of King himself. His first number one record, as well as other of his recordings, is on display along with many of his guitars. The museum walks you through King’s life with its many twists and turns.

One of the more interesting stories is how King’s guitars (all of them) became known as Lucille. On a cold night in 1949, King and his band were playing in Twist, AR. In the middle of the floor, a pail was half full of kerosene. The fuel would be lit and it would serve to heat the club. This particular night, two men started fighting, one pushed the other and hit the burning pail. King said it looked like a river of fire and everyone ran for the front door. Once outside, King realized he left his guitar inside the burning building. Back in he went, grabbed his guitar and realized the building was collapsing around him. King almost lost his life saving his guitar. The next morning he found out the two men were fighting over a lady. He never met the lady, but learned her name was Lucille. He named his guitar Lucille to remind him never to do a thing like that again.

Walking through the museum was like walking through Blues History and how it has influenced so many musicians of various music genres. Many of these younger musicians say King was their influence. Many of these became legends in their own time including Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, Santana, The Rolling Stones, U2 and many others. King played alongside country greats from Willie Nelson to Marty Stuart and sang with George Jones and Sheryl Crow.

No matter how famous King became, he never forgot his hometown of Indianola, MS. He would return every year, since 1980, and perform a free concert for the community.

The B. B. King Museum and Delta Interpretive Center is not to be missed. You may have to make a detour to Indianola, MS. Detour, you won’t be sorry and you will leave knowing the Blues is alive and doing well.

Note to RV Harvest Host Members: The museum is a Harvest Host. Parking is on asphalt. Great stop, great museum and great people.