Jazz musicians like Charlie Christian and the great French Gypsy guitarist Django Reinhardt had already brought the guitar to the front of the jazz ensemble. With the blues, however, the guitar was still used primarily as a rhythm instrument and an accompaniment for the vocalist, with an occasional lead phrase thrown in between the verses. B. B. was among the first blues musicians to make his guitar sing and howl as a lead instrument above the rest of the band. For years, vocalists, like Billie Holliday and Ella Fitzgerald, and saxophonists, like Charlie Parker and Lester Young, had played the leading role in popular American music. B. B. was determined to claim this same leading role for the electric blues guitar. With each awkward performance, he came a little closer to his goal. B. B. wanted to be the . protector
breadwinner
donor
front-runner