For 25 years I have been a great fan of "The Doors", and their genre of blues inspired rock-'n'- roll. But that was it...I knew nothing about the fabled "blues masters". My friend in London, Eduard Murray, changed all of that. Back in 1989 we shared a West End apartment for a short while, and enjoyed to a number of concerts together. One that I missed, and that Eduard STILL raves about, was B.B. King.

"Fast Forward" nine years to Prague in the Czech Republic...and my first opportunity to see the man who is universally hailed as the reigning king of the blues, and the single most important electric guitarist of the last half-century!

The Kongresovy Sal is one of my favourite concert venues in Prague. The complex consists of a number of tiered, all-seater auditoria, with excellent stage visibility and perfect accoustics. As I was uncertain whether we would enjoy the concert or not, I bought cheaper tickets on the back left-hand side of the second tier. Nevertheless, with our trusty binoculars, Debs and I had an outstanding view of the action!

B.B. King was punctual - something that I appreciate at a concert. Despite the global acclaim he has earned, the man's stage presence makes it clear that he is a "humble superstar" - an accessible icon who treats his audience with the deepest respect and gratitude. I like graciousness in a performer. Things were getting off to a good start!

And it got better! Although I was fairly unfamiliar with B.B. King's music, his songs were as comfortable as an old pair of Levi's. At one of his concerts it's quite easy to just close your eyes and wallow in the richness of his songs. He has an immediately recognizable guitar style, utilizing a trademark trill that approximates a bottleneck sound and that has long set him apart from his contemporaries. His guitar skills, together with his patented pleading vocal style have made B.B. King the most influential & innovative bluesman of the post-war period.

Back in 1951, B.B. named one of his guitars "Lucille". Many Lucilles have passed through his hands since then, and there can't be too many guitarists out there who have received the ultimate acclaim of the Gibson guitar manufacturer - they marketed an approved guitar model under the name!

Six decades of history. A moving and emotional performance. Outstanding songs. Empathy for the audience. A consumate professional who still plays 300 gigs a year. One of the most comfortable concerts I've had the pleasure of attending. There can be little doubt that B.B. King will reign as the blues' undisputed king for as long as he lives.