Colleen DePete and Jose Gutierrez were at The Blues Ball.
Elvis had a blue Christmas, but Pat Kerr Tigrett had a Blues Ball Christmas.
Instead of holding The Blues Ball in the accustomed early fall, Pat, the party's founder and general chairman, held the party -- her 16th -- Saturday night. She and her staff wrapped up the Gibson Guitar Factory in Christmas lights and miles of shiny mylar ribbon.
Explaining one of her reasons to move The Blues Ball near Christmas, Pat said, "With the economy it was a very good time. Because if anyone is going to be interested in doing special things, they might choose The Blues Ball to kick off the season."
The event, which supports Memphis music, was dedicated to the late producer/musician Jim Dickinson. His wife, Mary Lindsay, accepted his Lifetime Achievement Award. Preston Shannon, known as the "King of Beale Street," was the recipient of the Blues Ball Pyramid Award. Steve Cropper, who did not attend, was honored with the Memphis Sound Award. Rev. Samuel Billy Kyles accepted the Gospel Award for the Monumental Baptist Church Gospel Choir.
In typical dizzying Blues Ball fashion, guests were whisked into the silent auction area, where guitars featuring Elvis, Isaac Hayes, Sam Phillips and walk-on-the-moon (in honor of guest Dr. Buzz Aldrin) motifs were displayed. They then were ushered into dining areas in the Gibson Lounge and Gibson Showcase. Both rooms featured stages for the musical acts. Ruby Wilson and DiAnne Price performed in the VIP area.
Ruby, the ''Queen of Beale Street," opened the evening with the National Anthem. Also performing during the night were Shannon, William Bell, Al Kapone and Young AJ, Muck Sticky, Jason D. Williams and The Will Tucker Band.
George Klein was master of ceremonies.
To see a video of The Blues Ball, go to gomemphis.com.
'Dirty' photographs
Guests viewing photos of musical greats, including George Harrison, Steve Cropper, Donald ''Duck'' Dunn, Leon Russell, Albert King, Furry Lewis and Joe Cocker, on Friday night at The Jack Robinson Gallery also were treated to a concert by the musical guy who took the photos -- Don Nix.
Don, a producer, musician, singer and songwriter, also chatted with guests and signed at least one album for a fan at the opening reception for his exhibit of photos, "Dirty Negatives: The Photography of Don Nix." Leon Russell has his shirt off in one photo, but that's about as racy as the exhibit gets. 'Dirty negatives" means dust or lint on the negative showing up when the photo is printed.
Nix began taking photos as a teenager with a Brownie camera. He later switched to a 35-mm camera and began developing his photos. "I still don't call it 'photography,'" Don said. "I call it 'taking pictures.' Now they're just blown up a little bit. 'Big snapshots' is what they are."
"Dirty Negatives: The Photography of Don Nix" runs through Dec. 31.
Contact Michael Donahue at 529-2797 or e-mail donahue@commercialappeal.com
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Comments » 1
shelbyforest writes:
Good grief!! Did Pat Kerr Tigrett mug Father Christmas and steal his coat or what?
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