B.B. King:

I have long wanted to see, & hear B.B.King. There is no doubt that he is the "King of Blues Guitar", but it is B.B King’s blues’ vocal that I have always admired. Everytime B.B. was in town, I always found myself caught up in something else, and couldn’t manage getting to his show. So, when I was asked to tender a price for a B3 for his 98’Edinburgh Jazz Festival show, I was, to say the least, delighted. I soon found out, from Harvey Olsen, that James Toney was B.B’s Hammond player. I tried to find out as much as I could about Mr Toney, but there was little on the Internet about this man. I received the backline rider from B.B’s management. They had asked for a Hammond B3 and surprisingly, James had asked for two Leslie 147’s. Normally 122’s are requested, but it was quite clear from the rider…two Leslie 147’s.   On the day of the rental, I was asked to be keyboard tech as well as Hammond tech. The Edinburgh Piano Company brought in a beautiful Kawai Baby Grand, so I had the pleasure of "baby sitting" this wonderful instrument.

James Toney with your host, Mark Trayner

I was also given the job of looking after B.B King’s guitar amp, which I had to set up ready for him. I wouldn’t go as far as saying I was B.B.’s guitar tech….just looking after his amp.

We set up the stage as per the stage plan, only to find out that the stage plan we had been given was wrong. Tony Coleman, one of B.B’s drummers, arrived and told us "Nah, this is all wrong. Our management never get it right. Sorry guys!" He then helped us move all the gear to the right place. Tony is a really nice guy and funny too. He also has his own band, where he is lead singer. Click on the Coleman.wav file at the bottom of the page, to hear this guy sing!

Soon after the trumpet player "Boogaloo" turned up. He told us there would be no soundcheck. He told us " We have been doing this for 35 years…If we can’t do it by now…. We never will!" "Boogaloo" checked all the mikes, and instrument lines. He finally came to the Hammond. I had both the Leslie’s turned up pretty high. "Boogaloo" asked for them to be turned right down. I personally thought that these levels were too low, but I thought this guy must know what he is about.

When James arrived I went down to the bands dressing room to see him. I found James to be a wonderfully warm person. We had a chat about the Hammond and he asked if I had a good Hammond for him. I told him I thought it was good, but he better tell me at the end of the night what he thought of it. He kept looking at my Vintage Hammond Hire (Scotland) T-shirt, and finally he asked, "Could I get one of those T-shirts?" I told him not to worry…I had one with me for him. He grinned from ear to ear, and said "Ah. Thank you man! You Scots know how to look after us."

Everything was set for the show…. Except B.B. hadn’t arrived yet. We were told that B.B. had a sore leg and would be coming in the side entrance. He soon arrived. He was limping quite badly, and was obviously in quite a bit of pain. He was shown to his dressing room.

I had been working for Jools Holland the night before, and when Jools found out I was going to be working for B.B., he asked if I would pass on a message to B.B. for him. Because B.B. looked so tired, I thought it best to give the note to his security, and let them pass it on. The stage was set, and B.B’s band walked on stage and started playing some warm up numbers. As soon as James walked out on stage he tried out the B3 for the first time. He asked me what I had the Leslies set at? I told him that "Boogaloo" had asked for the Leslies to be turned down. James said, " I ain’t no trumpet player…. And "Boogaloo" ain’t no Hammond player…turn those Leslies up all the way! I need to hear those Leslies" I turned the Leslies up all the way. James tried the Hammond, and nodded "That’s it man! Now I can hear them."

Soon, I could see B.B. at the other side of the stage, ready to go on. It was at this time I saw Lucille, B.B. King’s world famous guitar, for the first time.

The band played his intro, and "Boogaloo" introduced him on stage. He walked on stage…WITHOUT A LIMP! Later, I mentioned this to his security guard. The security guy told me that B.B. had said, " These people ain’t payin to see a guy limping." So even though Mr King was in pain, he wasn’t going to limp on stage…and he didn’t.

B.B. King played some of his old standards "I woke up this morning"….."Bluesman"…"Since I met you baby"…" "Let the good times roll" and some of his new material. I was side of stage most of the performance, next to James Toney. At one point James played a Jimmy Smith lick, and looked round for me. I smiled back at him, and pointed to my ear and shouted to him " I hear ya James!… "Jimmy" Toney huh?"

James is a very good and tasteful blues Hammond player. He played the Hammond from very quiet, to flat out with overdrive. He also showed off well his blues piano playing. He uses very subtle, but clever, touches in his playing. He also had an Ensoniq KS32, which he used for a Rhodes, string, and clav sound, although he mostly played Hammond.

At the end of the performance, I was asked to help light B.B’s route to his dressing room, as it was very dark backstage. B.B. King left the stage after a few encores. B.B. passed me, and I thought my chance to meet the "King" had passed. But he looked back at me, or at least my Vintage Hammond Hire (Scotland) T-shirt and came back. He said to me " Thank you for the organ, it sounded just great. Thank you for passing on the postcard from Jools…How’s he doing?" I told him that Jools was well. I told B.B. that I enjoyed the show very much, and hope to see him again very soon. B.B. King struck me as a very nice and humble man, not just a legend of the blues…

After this, I went over to James. He thanked me, and quickly left for his dressing room. I set to packing up the B3, and Leslies. The "get out" was taking longer than I expected, so I thought I’d better go and see James and give him his Vintage Hammond Hire (Scotland) T-shirt. I left the stage and was half way down the stairwell, when I met James halfway coming up to see me. I asked him if he enjoyed playing the Hammond? He said, " The Hammond was great! I loved it! You would laugh if you were to see what I’m sometimes asked to play. Sometimes the damn organs won’t start!" I asked him why he wanted 147’s? He smiled and told me, "147’s growl more than 122’s… I would play 122… I just prefer 147’s with B.B’s band." We stood and chatted for a while, talking Hammond talk. I presented him with his Vintage Hammond Hire (Scotland) T-shirt. He said "Ah, Thank you man! This is the first time in all my days, that I have ever been given anything, I will wear it with pride man, and think of you and your B3. Thanks Man, See ya next time "I headed back to the stage…. and the get out.

I was surprised to see B.B’s security guy still on stage with Lucille. I asked him if I could touch Lucille…. Just so I could tell my friends I had. He said "Hell man! That’s why I’m standing here…. Usually I can’t get off the stage for guys kissing Lucille. He pointed out an area on the guitar that had the lacquer worn off. "This is where everyone kisses Lucille." So I bent over and kissed Lucille…. You have to…. It’s part of Blues history.

It was a great night…one to remember. I met one of my heroes, and had the chance to listen to his music up close. B.B. King is truly "King of the Blues".

Mark Trayner.