Friday, July 12th 2024, 9:57 am
The B.B. King Experience will be playing a free show at Louie's Bar and Grill in northwestern Oklahoma City, the band says.
The musical group, led by B.B. King's daughter Claudette King, herself a talented artist, joined the News 9 team ahead of their Friday night show to share more about their journey.
King said part of the motivation to continue performing is to keep the memory of her father alive.
"Keep that drive that he put out there alive, so people can see that B.B. King, even though he's not here, his spirit is here," King said.
Tony Coleman, who played drums for B.B. King, said he remembered his time preforming with the Blues legend as a great experience.
"I didn't only learn how to play music with the right feeling," Coleman said. "He was just a total gentleman and humanitarian-type individual. He loved people, and as far as he was concerned, you don't come on stage with a heartache, headache, or toothache, we'll deal with that tomorrow, satisfy the people."
Grady Champion, who plays the harmonica with the group, called it a pleasure to be able to perform and share their passion for music.
"Blues is just an expression," Champion said. "I think everybody could relate when it comes to music, everybody could communicate when it comes to music."
Champion, who, like B.B. King, comes from Mississippi, said he knew of his music from an early age.
"I'm from Mississippi, B.B. King from Mississippi, and one of the first thing we learned about Blues was B.B. King," Champion said.
For those interested in coming to Friday night's show, King described the show as an introduction to her father's life.
"They're gonna bring a lot of the music that he wrote and performed," King said. "They'll be able to feel what my dad did."
Friday night's show begins at 8 p.m. at Louie's Bar and Grill, located at 9401 Lake Hefner Parkway in Oklahoma City.
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