--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When you think blues, you think BB King…" description: "\"When you think blues, you think BB King. Even a young kid can look at a picture of BB King and say, 'the blues.' The man is more than a musician. He's ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/431/joe-bonamassa-6126_bb-king_when-you-think-blues-you-think-bb-king-e_2004870.jpg" --- # When you think blues, you think BB King. Even a young kid… ![“When you think blues, you think BB King. Even a young kid can look at a picture of BB King and say, 'the blues.' The man is more than a musician. He's a monument.” quote by Joe Bonamassa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/431/joe-bonamassa-6126_bb-king_when-you-think-blues-you-think-bb-king-e_2004870.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/431/joe-bonamassa-6126_bb-king_when-you-think-blues-you-think-bb-king-e_2004870.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/431/joe-bonamassa-6126_bb-king_when-you-think-blues-you-think-bb-king-e_2004870.jpg) > “When you think blues, you think BB King. Even a young kid can look at a picture of BB King and say, 'the blues.' The man is more than a musician. He's a monument.” [Joe Bonamassa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-bonamassa/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. BB King transcends music, becoming a cultural symbol of the blues. **In simple terms:** BB King is a blues icon. Key Takeaway Recognize cultural impact beyond talent. Themes music culture legacy Mood admiring inspirational Type historical celebratory When to use this quote - music education - heritage festivals - artist tributes Key Concepts iconography cultural symbolism Questions to Reflect On - What makes a musician a monument? - How does symbolism shape genre perception? A Different Perspective Focusing only on fame may ignore personal struggles. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Blues](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/blues/) [King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/king/) [Man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/man/) [Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) [Picture](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/picture/) ## Related quotes > [When you think of blues, all you think about is crying guitar like B.B. King's guitar. You think about someone crying that their woman's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ike-turner/when-you-think-of-blues-all-you-think-about-is-crying-guitar-like-b-b/) [Ike Turner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ike-turner/) > [It's no doubt that there's a connection (between the blues and hip-hop). Hip-hop is definitely a child of the blues. And I think you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/common/it-s-no-doubt-that-there-s-a-connection-between-the-blues-and-hip-hop/) [Common](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/common/) > [When I came to The Moody Blues, we were a rhythm and blues band. I was lousy at rhythm and blues - I think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-hayward/when-i-came-to-the-moody-blues-we-were-a-rhythm-and-blues-band-i-was/) [Justin Hayward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-hayward/) > [The whole of life itself expresses the blues. That's why I always say the blues are the true facts of life expressed in words…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willie-dixon/the-whole-of-life-itself-expresses-the-blues-that-s-why-i-always-say/) [Willie Dixon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willie-dixon/) > [Tell me everything, I would say. All about the blues, and the time your heart was broken, and what scares you the most, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-kleypas/tell-me-everything-i-would-say-all-about-the-blues-and-the-time-your/) [Lisa Kleypas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-kleypas/) > [I think 'BB Ki Vines' became popular because viewers could relate to it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bhuvan-bam/i-think-bb-ki-vines-became-popular-because-viewers-could-relate-to-it/) [Bhuvan Bam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bhuvan-bam/) > [Who's to say a blues man can't play rock and roll?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-bonamassa/who-s-to-say-a-blues-man-can-t-play-rock-and-roll/) [Joe Bonamassa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-bonamassa/) > [I wouldn't think a blues album would be that commercially successful, but I don't really care. I'd do it for the love of blues,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-mcvie/i-wouldn-t-think-a-blues-album-would-be-that-commercially-successful/) [Christine McVie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-mcvie/) > [I think the blues is fine for blues players, but free blues has never made much sense to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-bailey/i-think-the-blues-is-fine-for-blues-players-but-free-blues-has-never/) [Derek Bailey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-bailey/) > [If you don’t think you have the blues, just keep living.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/buddy-guy/if-you-don-t-think-you-have-the-blues-just-keep-living/) [Buddy Guy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/buddy-guy/) > [Nowadays blues in particular has a wide, wide, wide, wide net of everything that's called blues. I think if somebody's coming to it in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-louis-walker/nowadays-blues-in-particular-has-a-wide-wide-wide-wide-net-of/) [Joe Louis Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-louis-walker/) > [I wanted to know everything about the blues. I think it constantly changes for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-momoa/i-wanted-to-know-everything-about-the-blues-i-think-it-constantly/) [Jason Momoa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-momoa/) > [Just thinking of you dippin' would leave me in the blues, you would think I was crippin.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/just-thinking-of-you-dippin-would-leave-me-in-the-blues-you-would/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [For me, music is in no way ornamental or decorative, it's constitutive of who I am. And that's why, when I say I'm a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cornel-west/for-me-music-is-in-no-way-ornamental-or-decorative-it-s-constitutive/) [Cornel West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cornel-west/) > [“My mama used to say the blues is an ailment that don't like no sunshine in the room.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-wingate/my-mama-used-to-say-the-blues-is-an-ailment-that-don-t-like-no/) [Lisa Wingate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-wingate/) ## More by Joe Bonamassa > [That's the thing about the blues: It's one thing to hit a note on a guitar. To make it matter is something else altogether.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-bonamassa/that-s-the-thing-about-the-blues-it-s-one-thing-to-hit-a-note-on-a/) [Joe Bonamassa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-bonamassa/) > [My first proper 'Here's your guitar, Joseph' was a 1981 Chiquita, one of those Erlewine travel guitars. And it was good for a four-year-old…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-bonamassa/my-first-proper-here-s-your-guitar-joseph-was-a-1981-chiquita-one-of/) [Joe Bonamassa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-bonamassa/) > [I collect as many acoustic guitars as I need for a specific purpose. Acoustic guitars are really just tools for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-bonamassa/i-collect-as-many-acoustic-guitars-as-i-need-for-a-specific-purpose/) [Joe Bonamassa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-bonamassa/) > [When you're 12 and, you know, slightly overweight and - for lack of a better word - white, and you're playing blues, you get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-bonamassa/when-you-re-12-and-you-know-slightly-overweight-and-for-lack-of-a/) [Joe Bonamassa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-bonamassa/) > [The blues, the way it's interpreted, is always a product of your environment, and so it's almost like food. You know, it's like you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-bonamassa/the-blues-the-way-it-s-interpreted-is-always-a-product-of-your/) [Joe Bonamassa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-bonamassa/) > [At the end of the day, you really want to make sure that organic music, made by human beings, at least has a voice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-bonamassa/at-the-end-of-the-day-you-really-want-to-make-sure-that-organic-music/) [Joe Bonamassa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-bonamassa/) > [If I'm soloing, I usually try to start with a theme, which will often stem from the blues.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-bonamassa/if-i-m-soloing-i-usually-try-to-start-with-a-theme-which-will-often/) [Joe Bonamassa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-bonamassa/) > [Greece was a muse. It inspired creativity in magical ways that I can't even begin to understand or explain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-bonamassa/greece-was-a-muse-it-inspired-creativity-in-magical-ways-that-i-can-t/) [Joe Bonamassa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-bonamassa/) > [There was a rumour that I was buying Gibson. It circulated around the Internet... And I just go, 'How well off do you think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-bonamassa/there-was-a-rumour-that-i-was-buying-gibson-it-circulated-around-the/) [Joe Bonamassa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-bonamassa/) > [It's not enough to play a song: you have to inhabit it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-bonamassa/it-s-not-enough-to-play-a-song-you-have-to-inhabit-it/) [Joe Bonamassa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-bonamassa/) > [I love to collect guitars made in the 1950s. I like preserving and playing them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-bonamassa/i-love-to-collect-guitars-made-in-the-1950s-i-like-preserving-and/) [Joe Bonamassa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-bonamassa/) > [I've always been a big fan of taking old songs and completely turning them on their head. Having no adherence to the fine tradition…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-bonamassa/i-ve-always-been-a-big-fan-of-taking-old-songs-and-completely-turning/) [Joe Bonamassa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-bonamassa/) > [My first memory of guitar was seeing my father play one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-bonamassa/my-first-memory-of-guitar-was-seeing-my-father-play-one/) [Joe Bonamassa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-bonamassa/) > [Nothing I'm doing musically is revolutionary in any way, shape, or form.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-bonamassa/nothing-i-m-doing-musically-is-revolutionary-in-any-way-shape-or-form/) [Joe Bonamassa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-bonamassa/) > [I dislike all those cookie-cutter Nashville songs. You know the ones: about tight jeans and pick-up trucks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-bonamassa/i-dislike-all-those-cookie-cutter-nashville-songs-you-know-the-ones/) [Joe Bonamassa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-bonamassa/) [Explore all 100 Joe Bonamassa quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-bonamassa/) ## More Bb king quotes > [When I heard BB Kings Sweet Sixteen, I knew I wanted to play bass because that was the thing that made that record: the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-dunn/when-i-heard-bb-kings-sweet-sixteen-i-knew-i-wanted-to-play-bass/) [Donald Dunn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-dunn/) > [“In terms of scale or stature, I believe that if Robert Johnson was reincarnated, he is probably BB King. Maybe it would be worth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-clapton/in-terms-of-scale-or-stature-i-believe-that-if-robert-johnson-was/) [Eric Clapton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-clapton/) > [I love the music from Nat King Cole, BB King, Albert King... When I think of it, I wouldn't mind being renamed Angus King.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angus-young/i-love-the-music-from-nat-king-cole-bb-king-albert-king-when-i-think/) [Angus Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angus-young/) > [One of many joyful moments with BB King was him letting me play 'Lucille.' ...The thrill will never be gone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stevie-wonder/one-of-many-joyful-moments-with-bb-king-was-him-letting-me-play/) [Stevie Wonder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stevie-wonder/) > [When I heard BB King's 'Sweet Sixteen,' I knew I wanted to play bass because that was the thing that made that record: the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-dunn/when-i-heard-bb-king-s-sweet-sixteen-i-knew-i-wanted-to-play-bass/) [Donald Dunn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-dunn/) > [I listen to lots of blues records and some of them are funny. BB King's 'How Blue Can You Get' is hilarious.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lenny-henry/i-listen-to-lots-of-blues-records-and-some-of-them-are-funny-bb-king/) [Lenny Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lenny-henry/) > [At an early age I was listening to BB King, what have you. Ray Charles, Jimmy Smith, Jimmy Mcgriff, you dig? With the obvious…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pimp-c/at-an-early-age-i-was-listening-to-bb-king-what-have-you-ray-charles/) [Pimp C](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pimp-c/) > [I learned from Van Morrison and BB King that the first take is the best. It's about capturing a moment. It's the same as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jools-holland/i-learned-from-van-morrison-and-bb-king-that-the-first-take-is-the/) [Jools Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jools-holland/) > [I guess you can look at me, and tell I'm the old man. My name is BB King.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-b-king/i-guess-you-can-look-at-me-and-tell-i-m-the-old-man-my-name-is-bb-king/) [B. B. King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-b-king/) > [No one told Miles Davis or BB King to pack it in. John Lee Hooker played literally up to the day he died. Why…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-weller/no-one-told-miles-davis-or-bb-king-to-pack-it-in-john-lee-hooker/) [Paul Weller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-weller/) > [No one's better than me. I'm not better than anyone. Whether it's Eric Clapton or BB King we look straight at each other. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-santana/no-one-s-better-than-me-i-m-not-better-than-anyone-whether-it-s-eric/) [Carlos Santana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-santana/) > [I knew BB King when he first started out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-edwards/i-knew-bb-king-when-he-first-started-out/) [David Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-edwards/) Browse all 13 Bb king quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When you think blues, you think BB King. Even a young kid can look at a picture of BB King and say, 'the blues.' The man is more than a musician. 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