I was looking through some old records and found the first one I ever bought by B. B. King, Sweet Sixteen. I can’t remember which year, but it was a long time ago. My first live baptism from B.B. was probably in the late sixties at the Jackson Colosseum. Also, I can remember an early Medger Evers’s Homecoming in Jackson. However, my favorite memory was at a 70s New Orleans Jazz Fest on stage between the Wild Magnolias and the great Jazz Mack-Truck drummer Art Blakey, a special night of music.
In high school, during a Hot Stax show, I caught Bobby Blue Bland as a first. I think the Bar-Kays backed up the opening act for Bobby for Sam and Dave and Otis Redding. I was an instant fan for all of these guys. Bobby’s two steps from The Blues is an all-time favorite Blues/Soul album. I saw Bobby last at the Biscuit (Arkansas Blues Festival) in Helena, Arkansas. A fine evening of music sitting on the Levee in the cool October air soaking in my favorites once again.
Ken’s photo of B. B. and Bobby B is priceless, a classic, perhaps my favorite in Ken and Scott’s new book. Love radiates off these old pros.
B. B. is something very special and will be at the Helena Blues Festival. He’s still touring, still King of the Blues. The thrill may not be what it was, but it’s definitely not gone.
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Ken Murphy and Scott Barretta will be signing at Lemuria on Thursday, November 11th.
Reserve your copy online or call the bookstore 601/800.366.7619.
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