On March 7, 2009, Living Blues’ “Blues Artist of the Year” Willie King played his last show on the very stage many area fans first heard him — the Columbus Arts Council’s Omnova Theater in the Rosenzweig Arts Center. The following day, he died of a heart attack near his home in the small community of Old Memphis, Ala.
On Friday, the Columbus Arts Council presents “Blues for Willie,” a tribute to honor this elder statesman of the Black Prairie blues, a man who preached a consistent message of peace, love and social justice.
The 7 p.m. event will include many musicians, who frequently performed with King, and several who played alongside him the night before his death. The Old Memphis Kings featuring Caleb Childs, and Big Joe Shelton and the Black Prairie Blues Ambassadors will celebrate the legacy of their friend and mentor.
“Willie called Big Joe and Caleb ‘the ones’ — ‘the ones’ who would carry on the blues in this area,” said Beverly Norris, who coordinated King’s repeat performances at the arts center.
The event will include dedication of a plaque in King’s honor for the theater, as well as remarks by others who worked closely with him, including Richard Ramsey, of West Point’s Howlin’ Wolf Memorial Blues Festival.
A “Willie’s Wall” in the gallery floor foyer of the Rosenzweig Arts Center will be designated for anyone to share thoughts, memories or photos of King.
“This is an honor, keeping his name and memory alive, and I appreciate that,” said King’s daughter, Ayeshah King of Aliceville, Ala. “He always believed in diversity and bringing people together; it was a dream and goal he tried to accomplish. His dreams had come true.”
Remembering Willie
Joe Shelton recalled many nights at Bettie’s Place, a small juke joint in rural West Alabama.
“There’d be a space heater in the winter and it’d be hot as hell in summer, but Willie would start jukin’ and the floor would be shakin’,” Shelton reminisced. “And all the times I was there, I never saw any kind of trouble. Everybody had enough respect for Willie and knew how he was; he was a peaceful man, and that’s what it was all about.”
“Freedom Creek” and “I am the Blues” were the first of several acclaimed albums in King’s brief recording career, which began in 2000. They led to performances at national and international festivals. The humble bluesman was featured in Martin Scorsese’s 2003 documentary series “The Blues: Feel Like Going Home,” and was the subject of “Down in the Woods,” a documentary by Dutch filmmakers. The unlikely star collected a diverse fan base.
“At Bettie’s, I met people from Germany, from California … you never knew who you would run into there,” said Shelton, who often played with King and plans to debut a song he wrote, in his honor, on Friday. The Black Prairie Blues Ambassadors are Shelton, Bob Damm, Ben Ferrell, Bobby Shannon and Ed Swan.
Of Caleb Childs, who also performs Friday, Shelton said, “Caleb was one of his chosen ones. Caleb gets it. He can channel Willie.”
Passing it on
Childs’ first encounter with King literally changed the course of his musical life. It was after King’s first Columbus Arts Council show, with Slick Ballinger and Big Joe.
“I was real shy, but after the show my dad wanted me to meet him and get a picture,” recounted Childs. “I hadn’t really played (guitar) anywhere before, except around the house, but that night, when Willie learned I did, he said, ‘Come over to my house Saturday and I’ll show you some more.'”
Childs and a friend, current Old Memphis Kings bandmate Drew Blackwell, did. “And on about the third Saturday, Willie informed us we were playing somewhere, and we ended up being his band at a fish fry,” the Louisville native said.
As the mentoring continued, Childs “met so many different musicians and people who put on music shows.”
Childs went on to perform himself on the Omnova stage, at festivals and numerous other venues.
The Old Memphis Kings — Childs, Blackwell, Beth Fulgham and Keatzi Gunmoney — will showcase several King-inspired songs Friday.
“Willie King took the time to show us his music, maybe hoping the next generation would carry on,” said a grateful Childs, now 23.
How to go
Because seating is limited for the March 16 event, advance tickets are strongly recommended, they are $12 at the Rosenzweig Arts Center, 501 Main St., Columbus. Tickets at the door, if available, are $15.
The event is sponsored in part by Stewart and Molly Stafford; Quinn, Amber and Annabelle Brislin; and The Jug Fine Wines and Spirits.
For more information, contact the Columbus Arts Council at 662-328-2787.
Jan Swoope is the Lifestyles Editor for The Commercial Dispatch.
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