A B.B. Main Course with Gladys For Dessert
October 1, 2010 by MJP
Filed under Boomer Lifestyle
Day 1 of AARP Orlando@50+ ended with a spectacular show by B.B. King and Gladys Knight. B.B. is 85 and Ms. Knight is 66 but who cares. They can entertain and connect with an audience like few others in the business at any age.
B.B. performed from a chair with his beloved Lucille. He talked to us with his stories, his blues lyrics, and his guitar. He liked us. We liked him back.
One of my favorite parts of his show was his professed admiration for women and his disdain for how they are treated by those in the hip-hop generation. He felt that it was duty to preach against that. Amen.
Ms. Knight was energetic, passionate and contemplative. Her music brought the house down on several occasions. Her older brother (Pip #1) helped out towards the end.
One of the positives of attending a show like this is its ability to loosen up the good parts of you. The music that you remember and that made you feel good surges through you, pushing up and away so much of the negativity and pessimism. It actually gave me a high, in a good way. I hope it lasts.
If you get the opportunity to attend a concert of one of your old favorites, jump on it. The emotional and spiritual benefits may surprise and sustain you.
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Yes, I agree about seeing musicians even as they’re older. Always fascinating to see how vocal quality hold for some and not so well for others, but can still enjoy listening to most of them. Instrumental groups are usually really good — at least in jazz.