BENDIGO guitarist Marc Leon said the first time he saw BB King play it was amazing.
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"I saw him play at Festival Hall in Melbourne in 1974. The first note he played, I just melted," Leon said.
Blues guitarist Shannon Bourne said the a similar thing.
"I saw him play when I was 15 and on that first note, I hit the floor," he said.
BB King died aged 89 on Friday. The 15-time Grammy winner suffered from diabetes and had been in declining health during the past year. Leon said even in the past year, King was still an impressive musician.
"He was playing right up until a couple of months ago," he said.
"He was slowing down but his voice was still great and his playing was good but a bit more restrained."
Bourne said it is hard to imagine a world without King.
"It's like a world without Bob Dylan, he's that important," he said.
"He was like a great-grandfather to all electric blues guitarists.
"He took blues to an international stage."
Bourne said King was also a hard worker on the stage.
"He was such a hard work. He never did anything by half," he said.
"He would deliver great shows every night and you have to admire someone who works that hard."
Despite the loss of such a renowned blues musician, King will still remain an important influence for budding blues guitarists.
"BB King’s name will still be dropped (by guitarists)," Leon said.
"Everytime someone asks 'who’s your favourite player?' A lot of people will still say BB King."