MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Beale Street seemed to be ready to honor B.B. King.
It’s fitting since Beale Street was where King really got his musical start.
“He was the Beale Street Blues Boy. That’s kinda what B.B. stands for and tomorrow is our final farewell to someone who has meant an awful lot to the city and will mean to the future. He is leaving behind a lasting legacy,” said Tribute Organizing Committee member Kevin Kern.
The celebration is scheduled to kick off Wednesday 10:30am with a musical tribute in Handy Park.
Then at 11:00, city leaders pay homage to the Blues Legend.
Fans like Beulah Thomas said they plan to get there early.
“Oh boy! He was such a beautiful man, a loved man, even his music,” said Thomas.
The procession led by King’s favorite lady, his guitar Lucille, will travel down Beale Street and past his name sake club.
Longtime friend Tommy Peters runs the Blues Club and said it will be touching to see B.B make his last pass.
“If you ever saw him play, he gave his all every night. I saw him when he was very, very sick always go on stage and give his all to his audience,” said Peters.
Ironically, the man who was so giving in life, ends his with controversy as some family members claim his death was a homicide, caused by his long time manager who kept the family away.
Tommy Peters said he didn’t want to dwell on that.
“There is a lot of emotion and understandably so, but I am not gonna comment on that. There are fine people involved,” said Peters.
The Las Vega Coroner is investigating, but that won’t delay the funeral.
B.B King’s procession will head down Third Street and into Mississippi, toward his birthplace, Indianola, where the King of the Blues will be laid to rest.
“He will always be in my heart and my spirit. I just love him. I just really do,” says Thomas.
All the events happening Wednesday in Memphis are free to the public, but B.B. King’s body won’t be viewed in Memphis.
There will be a public viewing Friday from 10am to 5pm at the B.B. King Museum in Indianola.
B.B. King’s funeral will be Saturday at Bell Grove Missionary Baptist Church in Indianola.