Meeting a Blues Legend

On our recent road trip from Texas to the Midwest, I found myself on a corner of Beale Street in Memphis, standing in the door of B.B.King’s Blues Club, and captivated by the funky facade of the Blues City Cafe across the street.  It was in this building, in 1990 or ’91, that I attended a private birthday party for the great blues legend Albert King, whose soul-rending guitar riffs deeply influenced later legends from Eric Clapton to John Mayer, who posthumously inducted King into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame earlier this year.

This corner cafe was then called Doe’s Eat Place, and was owned by George Eldridge, an entrepreneur and close friend of King. I’d been sent a VIP pass by my design colleague and dear friend Liz Williams, George’s wife, and I jumped at the opportunity to travel to Memphis.  After an hour or so in the club, a white limo pulled up to the door, and Albert King emerged wearing a white suit, sunglasses, and the requisite bluesman’s fedora. It was an unforgettable sight. He headed straight for the dining room.

As Mr.King was finishing his lunch, Eldridge walked me to his table to introduce me. I explained that I was a huge fan of his music and influence, and had traveled from Texas to wish him Happy Birthday. Receiving no response from Mr. King, I thanked him for seeing me and turned to depart.  As I crossed the room, I heard, “Hey.”  I turned, and Mr. King was standing, wiping his mouth with a napkin and looking at me.  He extended his massive hand for a handshake, and said, “I just want you to know that I appreciate it.”  He then made his way to the stage for a fine, extended set of killer blues, including his signature tune, “Born Under a Bad Sign.”  Sadly, King died a few months later.

All these memories came rushing back as I sketched the cafe, and a group of young African-American boys circled their bicycles to watch.  I wondered if there was a future Albert King in the group.