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B.B. King Museum and Delta Interpretive Center |
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Deak
Harp meets B.B. King |
| Deak
attended the B.B. King press conference,
and seized the moment. He introduced himself,
and told B.B. of when he opened for him,
along with Larry McCray. Deak said "Mr.
King, I've brought a CD of mine for you".
B.B. asked, "well, did you autograph
it?" (laughter throughout the room) |
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The
B.B. King Museum and Delta Interpretive Center
opening ceremonies began Sept.
11th. The town of Indianola celebrated this event
in grand style, as Billy Branch led a crowd of over
1,000 harmonica-playing children down the streets
of Indianola, towards the steps of the B.B. King Blues
Museum. Getting 1,000 children to do anything is a
Herculaneun effort, yet along with with Sade - Director
of Education at the B.B. King Museum - they pulled
it off!
Billy
Branch said "this may be a world record"!
Deak
Harp was on hand to lend a hand to this monumental
event. As the crowd gathered in anticipation, B.B.
came outside to witness the unveiling of his new museum
sign, and to enjoy the fans gathered.
Immediately afterwards B.B. held a press conference,
a Q & A session from an international press crew
Here's a few of the questions asked.
Q: What does the opening of this
museum mean to you?
A: They say Heaven is wonderful.
If Heaven is anything like this, I look forward to
Heaven. I love this town. The highlight of my year
is coming down to play for the children of Indianola,
here in the park.
Q:
Who do you like playing on your new radio show?
A: If I were playing for me, I'd
be playing a lot of Blind Lemon Jefferson, Little
Milton, Sam Cooke, and Bobby Bland. It's what I was
raised on.
Q:
What does being
from the Delta mean to you?
A: The Delta
has been a guiding light for me. If I had to do it
all over again, I'd live the same way, WITHOUT the
segregation. I'd have finished school, gone onto college,
and majored in computers with a minor in music. And,
I wouldn't have married until I was 40! (drew more
laughter from the press)
B.B. left us with this note - "Please tell the
children B.B. says always keep learning"! An immensely
talented and gracious man, B.B. is a musical icon
of rare stature. Learn more at
his website, and here
at the museum!
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