Hillary Clinton may have lost Teddy Kennedy's endorsement today, but at least she can take solace in having the backing of blues great B.B. King.
BB King and Larry Sells in Kansas City
In town for a sold-out performance Friday night at the Uptown Theater, King regaled a handful of fans and the Uptown owner Larry Sells on his tour bus for a half hour afterward. A sweetly sincere King talked about meeting Eric Clapton, Janis Joplin, Bono, the Bushes and the Clintons and growing up in the Mississippi Delta. (He has an establishment in Memphis that sells the hottest hot wings you'll ever taste).
A modest King said when President Bush told him that he and First Lady Laura Bush love to dance to one of B.B. King's tunes, the bluesman had his doubts. That is until the president detailed the song, which convinced King that the president wasn't just being nice.
Still, King's face really lit up when talking about Bill and Hillary Clinton, his admiration for them and the fun he had in playing for them in the White House. Bill Clinton was president when the king of blues was inducted into the Kennedy Center Honors. The two have also performed together, including since Clinton left the White House. About the presidential saxophone player, King demurred on discussing his playing abilities other than to politely say Clinton can read music faster than him.
He did say, "I'm a Democrat," and was naturally supporting Hillary Clinton's presidency. When told Bill Clinton would be in Independence Saturday, he begged to have his best wishes conveyed.
And when the blues king asks, this Prime Buzz correspondent delivers. So when Clinton was doing a small meet-and-greet beforehand, he looked surprised and then delighted when told King sent along his hellos. He queried about the concert and then said, "He is a good man."
So did Larry mention his views on immigration?
And 911 and Ron Paul?
Must not have, or BB wouldn't have posed with him.