B.B. King Performs on New Year's Eve in Fort Lauderdale

Harry Truman was president of the 48 United States of America when legendary bluesman B.B. King released his first two singles, "Miss Martha King" and "Got the Blues," in 1949. Now fast-forward six decades and add a couple of states: Notice anything different? Not really, right? Because at 87 years old,...

By Victor Gonzalez

December 27, 2012

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Harry Truman was president of the 48 United States of America when legendary bluesman B.B. King released his first two singles, "Miss Martha King" and "Got the Blues," in 1949.

Now fast-forward six decades and add a couple of states: Notice anything different? Not really, right? Because at 87 years old, B.B. King has still "Got the Blues" -- Grammy-winning blues, in fact. The legendary axe man, who'll perform a special New Year's Eve show at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts, has racked up 15 golden gramophones over the course of his illustrious career, as well as a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.

And he's done it all with his beautiful, black, curvaceous Gibson guitar, Lucille, riding shotgun.

"If any of you gentlemen got ladies who like guitar music, don't let 'em come down front," King joked earlier this year during a special set at the Adrienne Arsht Center. "Because when we put a little heat out there, the ladies start parading." King may have the blues, but he's also got serious game.

B.B. King's New Year's Eve, 9 p.m. Monday, December 31, at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts, 201 SW Fifth Ave., Fort Lauderdale; 954-462-0222; browardcenter.org. Tickets cost $59.50 to $139.50 plus fees via ticketmaster.com.

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