Alan Freed Clip: archives.org
Usage: Public Domain

Story by: Gail Nobles

Welcome again to Podcast and Blues. I am your host Gail Nobles. I want to talk about the sound of B.B. King from the 1950s. A much different sounding style of blues than when he was singing The Thrill Is Gone from the 1970s. Alan Freed would play BB King’s music.

(Alan Freed Introduces B.B. King's song)

B.B. King song Lonely and Blue reminds me of a song that Fats Domino would sing. Lonely and Blue is a song that you would call a blues ballad.

There's a whole album and collection of B.B. King singing blues ballads titled B.B.-King Heart and Soul. There's a song on the album that makes me think of the Platters.


The Platters, Fats Domino, and B.B. King were singing in the 1950s. They were all in the rock 'n' roll era in the genres of rhythm and blues.

I'm Gail Nobles. Thank you for tuning in, and please come back again next time for more Podcast and Blues.