Blues guitar great B.B. King will bring his music to the Embassy Theatre on October 4, 2014.  The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame musician was ranked # 6 on the 2011 Rolling Stone magazine list of the 100 greatest guitarists of all time and # 16 in Gibson’s “Top 50 Guitarists of All Time.”

He was also inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame in 1980 and won at least 15 Grammy Awards, including one for what is arguably still his most recognized song, “The Thrill is Gone.” The King of Blues, now in his late 80s, continues to perform several hundred concerts a year with his beloved Gibson ES-355 B.B. King Signature guitar “Lucille.”  Speaking of which, the Gibson Guitar Corporation is offering Lucille instruments to the public for $3,799, on its website and in certain stores.  King’s own custom Lucille is far more tricked out and likely cost near $10,000.  (As a longtime ES-335 guitar owner and instructor myself, I was intrigued to learn that King’s ebony with-gold -hardware guitar was customized to omit the f-holes.  I’m not sure why but I’ve yet to play an ES-355, so don’t know if it makes a difference in the sound or not) The talented guitar improviser has guest-appeared in several TV shows and also recorded several dozen studio albums over the years.  He has performed worldwide with artists Eric Clapton, the Rolling Stones, Gladys Knight, Bo Diddley and many more. Literally, hundreds of awards have graced King’s performances such as the Kennedy Center Honors, Polar Music Prize (from the Royal Swedish Academy of Music), Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, the Presidential Medal of Freedom from George W. Bush, and been named one of the 10 best electric guitarist of all time by TIME Magazine, to list only a few. Tickets can be purchased by contacting the Embassy Theatre box office (260.424.5665; 125 West Jefferson Blvd Fort Wayne, IN 46802) or Ticketmaster (1.800.745.3000; www.ticketmaster.com).  Tickets range from $46.65-86.05 with orchestra pit, main floor seat and balcony seating. Come to the Embassy on October 4, and be prepared to touch greatness.