How the blues world said goodbye to B.B. King — VIDEO

Much has been written about blues legend B.B. King, from eloquent tributes to scenes from the public viewing and the private family funeral here in Las Vegas to the sad dispatches of the ongoing acrimony between King’s surviving family members and his former business manager.

No matter how many words are dedicated to the man, however, they will never adequately or fully capture the profound gravity and poignancy felt by music fans across the country. The legendary guitarist clearly meant the world to a great many people, as evidenced by the clips posted on YouTube of the massive turnout for a funeral procession in which thousands of folks — including Bobby “Blue” Bland’s son Rodd — marched down Beale Street in Memphis in his honor.

After the viewing and services were held here in Las Vegas the weekend prior, B.B. was laid to rest this past weekend in his hometown of Indianola, Miss. Mississippi Public Broadcasting televised the funeral live locally, with a simulcast stream on its YouTube channel. That’s also where you’ll find footage from the three-hour service in its entirety, held this past Saturday at Bell Grove Missionary Baptist Church, where 700 hundred folks attended.

Read more of Dave Herrera at bestoflasvegas.com. Contact Dave at dherrera@reviewjournal.com