Mississippi Valley State University will pay tribute to a legendary bluesman Thursday with the inaugural B.B. King Day.
MVSU’s B.B. King Recording Studio and the B.B. King Museum and Delta Interpretive Center are co-hosting.
“The purpose of the event is to preserve the historical legacy of B.B. King,” said Dr. Alphonso Sanders, chair of the MVSU Department of Fine Arts and director of the B.B. King Recording Studio.
King, who was born near Itta Bena in the Berclair community, died May 14 in Las Vegas at the age of 89.
A series of panel discussions on his life and influence will be held from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the MVSU Business Education Building Auditorium.
These forums will feature musicians directly influenced by King, including members of his touring band, as well as prominent blues and R&B musicians Bobby Rush, Otis Clay, Leflore County native Denise LaSalle and Big George Brock.
Mary Shepard, a longtime King acquaintance and former owner of Indianola’s historic Club Ebony, will deliver a welcome address.
Allan Hammons, a board member at the B.B. King Museum, will present samples from his library of photographs.
Musical performances will be held from 7 p.m. onward at the B.B. King Museum and Delta Interpretive Center in Indianola.
This is the first of what is expected to be a yearly tradition, commemorating King on the first Thursday in September, King’s birth month.
The event is open to the public. For more information, contact Sanders at asanders@mvsu.edu.
• Contact Nick Rogers at 581-7235 or nrogers@gwcommonwealth.com.
