B.B. King Recalls Meeting Eric Clapton For The First Time

08/24/2000 1:00 PM, Yahoo! Music
Craig Rosen

(8/24/00, 10 a.m. ET) - Riding With The King, the successful new joint album between guitar heroes Eric Clapton and B.B. King, is the culmination of a long friendship that's seen occasional live performances, as well as the duet "Rock Me Baby" on King's Deuces Wild album.King recently gave LAUNCH his recollection of meeting Clapton. "I met him in the '60s, and I think it was his first trip over to the U.S.," King remembered. "We seemed to hit it off all right then. I do remember one thing real good: When he got back to the U.K. and was being interviewed, he said one of the nicest things that he had experienced was meeting and playing with me, and he also told the British people that when I come over to be sure to come out and see me, they would enjoy it. I started to liking him and loved him for it until today."

Riding With The King is King's first platinum album. He's currently headlining his annual blues package tour, which this year features Buddy Guy and Susan Tedeschi. The tour hits the Blossom Music Center in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, tonight (August 24).

-- Gary Graff, Detroit

Got news tips, comments, or questions? Send them to newstips@launch.com.