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Two of the most influential rhythm and blues performers in history will rock the world from inside Olympic Stadium on August 4, 1996 as part of the Closing Ceremony of the 1996 Olympic Games, Executive Producer Don Mischer announced today.
"The music the world loves most originates in the South," Mischer said. "The Closing Ceremony will include an Olympic-size jam session with the artists who helped make the South the undeniable music capital of the world."
Born in Macon, Georgia as Richard Wayne Penniman, Little Richard is known around the world as the architect of rock 'n roll. The inspiration for such music hall of famers as Elvis Presley, Bo Diddley, Buddy Holly, Chuck Berry, James Brown, Smokey Robinson, Quincy Jones, David Bowie, Keith Richards, Mick Jagger, Otis Redding, and Paul McCartney, Richard has been dubbed everything from "the Georgia Peach" and "the original wild man of rock 'n roll" to the "originator" and the "emancipator" for his roll in the crossover of rhythm and blues to the popular charts. Now an ordained minister, Richard is famous for songs such as "Good Golly Miss Molly," "Long Tall Sally," "Tutti Frutti, and "Great Gosh A Mighty."
"It makes me proud to host the Olympic Games in my home state and there is certainly nothing like the Games for a performer who craves a world stage," Richard said. "I am particularly interested in seeing into how many languages you can translate 'a-wop-bop-a-loo-bop-a-wop-bam-boom.'"
Known as the King of the Blues, guitar master Riley B. King--B.B.King--a native of Itta Bena, Mississippi, will join the Closing Ceremony Olympic jam. One of the musicians who helped Memphis, Tennessee's Beale Street earn fame as a "living paradise" for the blues, King has earned seven Grammy Awards including, in 1987, a "Lifetime Achievement Award." In 1995, he received The Kennedy Center Honors. His many awards include the 1991 National Heritage Fellowship from the National Endowment of the Arts and the 1990 Presidential medal of the Arts.
In addition to his R&B hits, "Three O'Clock Blues," and "You Don't Know Me," both of which hit the number one slot in the early '50's, King is famous for many songs, including "Please Love Me" ('53) and "The Thrill is Gone" (70's). He helped to make blues classics such as "Payin' The Cost to be the Boss," "Caldonia," "How Blue Can You Get," "Everyday I have the Blues," and "Why I Sing the Blues" concert staples.
"I am looking forward to singing the blues with the whole world on August 4," King said.
The 1996 Olympic Games celebrate the one hundredth anniversary of the Modern Olympic Games. More than 10,000 athletes are expected to participate in the games which take place from July 19 to August 4. The Closing Ceremony is expected to draw a worldwide television audience of more than 3 billion people.
Once again, the world's most traveled artist and King of the Blues leaves for his annual "Jazz Festival" tour of Europe. This year he can be seen in London, Paris, The Hague, Antibes, St. Gallens, and many other countries in Europe.
B.B. King, the living legend, will be on tour from June 28, 1996 through July 29, 1996.
The 5th annual "Blues Music Festival" will commence August 9th at Concord, CA and will continue fro 38 concerts, terminating at Urbana, Illinois on September 27.
The 1996 package, according to producer Paul Zukoski will consist of Aaron Neville and the Neville Brothers, Delbert McClinton, and Kenny Wayne Shephard. Also on select dates are Taj Mahal, Duke Robillard, and John Mayall, with B.B. King headlining all shows.
Highlight dates of the tour are the Greek Theater, August 17-18, Radio City Music Hall on September 11, Chene Park in Detroit on August 21, Wolftrap in Vienna, VA, on September 6, Chastain Park on September 20, and others.
MCA releases a two CD set of classic live performances from 1964 to 1994. These two CDs contain 29 songs from all sources of his best performances, including the Regal Theatre, Cook County Jail, Live in Japan, University of Mississippi, With the Royal Philharmonic, HBO TV Special, San Quentin, Apollo Theatre, and Manheim, Germany.
The autobiography of B.B. King is scheduled to be in stores on October 10, 1996, announced Executive Editor Jennifer Hershey of Avon Books. This book, as told to David Ritz, is expected to be a best seller immediately, says King's manager, Sid Seidenberg.
A promotional tour for the book is scheduled for October 14 through October 24 with scheduled stops in New York, Chicago, San Francisco, Minneapolis, Detroit, Los Angeles and other cities. Arrangements are being made for book signings at major book stores, television appearances, and press conferences in all cities. B.B. King will be taking "Lucille" along, but is not expected to perform.
Sid Seidenberg, B.B. King's longtime manager announces a continued flurry of activity for the Mr. King in television and radio commercials.
In addition to appearances on Budweiser, Wendy's, and the blue M&M commercials, B.B. will soon be seen in three new major campaigns:
- Northwest Airlines media campaign and television commercials
- Texaco commercials
- A Microsoft Music Central film clip as part of it's _Music Encyclopedia_.
B.B. can be seen performing "The Thrill is Gone."
For the 33rd year in a row, B.B. King will make benefit appearances on May 31 in Indianola, Mississippi, June 1 in Fayette, Mississippi, and in Pickens, Mississippi on June 2.
Among the supporting artists are Little Milton, Tyrone Davis, Charles Wilson, Chuck Willis, Little Ms. Soul, Tina Diamond, The Parchmen Band, Reverend Joe Washington, and The Gabriel Tones & Gospel Singers.
Return to B.B.
King's home page.