B. B. King

I’m still searching even today for a sound, like the guy that’s searching for a home. I haven’t been able to find that completely. I’m satisfied at times with the sound of my guitar… but it is a little sound that I hear but I can’t tell anybody about it. I don’t know how. But if I ever get it, I’ll know.

For all the hard times and tough challenges I faced during different periods of my life, I think I was lucky or blessed or both. When things looked bleak, a good guide would appear to set me straight. Someone once asked me about the villains who got in my way, the bad guys who wanted to trip me up or take me out. I don’t remember any. Maybe it’s my nature to remember the good and forget the bad, or maybe it’s my destiny to lock onto the righteous for help.

I never use that word, retire.

I don’t think it’s meant for man to know everything at once.

Nobody loves me but my mother – And she could be jivin’, too.

I’ve always tried to defend the idea that the blues doesn’t have to be sung by a person who comes from Mississippi, as I did.

All the music that was ever heard came from the inner silence in every musician.

Jazz music is a special skill that has brought pleasure to millions throughout the world.

Jazz music has got to have that thing. You have to be born with it. You can’t even buy it. If you could buy it, they’d have it at the next Newport festival.

He almost adds a Chet-like sound to it.

When you are studying Jazz best thing to do is listen to records and live music as much you can and absorb everything.

And as long as people have problems, the blues can never die.

I’ve always felt rock and roll was very, very wholesome music.

As long as there are people trying to play music in a sincere way, there will be Jazz.

If you hit a wrong note, then make it right by what you play afterward.

If you already have a piece of music ingrained in your body, why would you not play it?

If you follow your passions, you’ll never work a day in your life.

It doesn’t matter all that much. It’s just that when you’re playing, Stephane, you’ve got both Chaput and me backing you, but when I’m soloing I’ve only got one guitar behind me!

When I sing, trouble can sit right on my shoulder and I don’t even notice.

This guitar is such a pal. It’s a psychiatrist. It’s a doggone bartender. It’s a housewife. This guy is everything. Whenever I find that I’ve got a problem, I’ll go pick my guitar up and play. It’s the greatest pal in the whole world.

I wanted to do the music, but not at the expense of being happy.