Imagine three of the most excellent musicians in history—James Brown, Bobby Bland, and B.B. King—coming together to perform on stage. Sounds unbelievable, right? Well, it happened back in the 1970s, and the moment was captured in a 2014 documentary called “Mr. Dynamite,” that celebrates the life and career of James Brown. One of the best parts is a rare performance featuring James Brown, Bobby Bland, and B.B. King.
At the start of the performance, James Brown talks about how much he admires Bobby Bland’s singing, saying that he used to try to sing like him but could never match his style. Then, with the crowd buzzing, B.B. King joined them on stage. Together, the three legends performed a blues medley of songs like “Goin’ Down Slow” and “I’m Sorry.” B.B. King plays his iconic guitar while James and Bobby sang, creating a performance that mixes blues and soul, with pure energy.
James Brown, Bobby Bland, B.B King – Blues medley
But what made this performance even more special wasn’t just the music it was the chemistry between the artists. You could tell how much they were enjoying, by the way their faces lit up with joy and the room filled with their laughs. At one point, Bobby Bland even admitted without any hesitance to B.B. King, “Oh, you sound so good.” It was obvious that this wasn’t just a show but a moment of friendship and respect for each other’s talent.
This wasn’t the last time the two teamed up to move the music industry. In 1983, James Brown and B.B. King performed together again, this time in Beverly Hills. The crowd went wild as B.B. King played his famous guitar solos, but this time, he added a harmonica solo, aswell. The energy was electric, and their performance of songs like “Sex Machine” and “Sweet Little Angel” brought back the sound of the ‘60s.
James Brown. B.B. King Live 1983📽️🎸
Watching these three legends perform is a reminder of just how music can create magic that can come to life. The blues they played influenced so many other genres from rock, and funk, all the way to hip hop and R&B. Without James Brown, Bobby Bland, and B.B. King; music as we know it would be very different.
Even though these legends are no longer with us, their music is still alive in our hearts. If you want to experience more of their moving performances, check out their videos on YouTube. Check out his website to learn more about him and what he does.