Greetings from the Director!

B.B. King Museum and Delta Interpretive Center

B.B. King Museum Newsletter

March 30, 2012

Club Ebony and the B.B. King Museum

We understand that rumors are circulating regarding the relationship between the B.B. King Museum and Club Ebony. As many of you know, Club Ebony was purchased by Mr. King a few years ago. Mr. King has expressed an interest in donating the club to the Museum, but the details are still being worked out. At this time Club Ebony is still owned by Mr. King. In the coming weeks we hope to be able to announce that we have received this historic site. We are excited about this most generous donation and will keep you informed about our progress.

Greetings from the Director

We have had a lot going on during the past couple of months at the B.B. King Museum. Get ready. This edition is a long one!

First, I would like to update you on our Ambassadors' trip to the White House. Four Indianola high school students representing the B. B. King Museum's new teen leadership program, B.B.'s Bridge Building Ambassadors, joined students from across the nation Feb. 20-22 to attend At the Crossroads: A History of the Blues in America in Washington, D.C. They were invited to the two-day event by its organizer, the Grammy Museum in Los Angeles. This is what your ambassadors had to say:

Demarcus Gillespie, Robert Merritt Jr. High - The blues originated in Mississippi, so when I went to D.C., I felt as if I was representing the entire Magnolia State. Another exciting moment was meeting all of the blues performers who helped influence the sound that formed the other types of music we listen to today.

Shanice Mitchell, Gentry High School - Among the most memorable highlights were visiting the historical White House and meeting our First Lady Michelle Obama. It meant the world to me to get an opportunity to attend the celebration at the White House. Being a "Bridge Building Ambassador" at the B.B. King Museum and Delta Interpretive Center has presented me with a lifetime of positive memories.

Amanda Simpson, Robert Merritt Jr. High - The biggest highlight of this experience for me was getting to attend the press conference at the White House. I found Mrs. Obama's speech very inspirational and found that I am not the only person who believes that anything is possible if you are willing to work for it. I consider it a real honor to be a part of the B.B. King's Bridge Building Ambassadors program. We have learned a lot about the life of Mr. King, the history of our area and the civil rights movement.

B.B.'s Bridge Building Ambassadors at the White House

B.B.'s Bridge Building Ambassadors visit with Bob Santelli, Director of the Grammy Museum, at the White House

Thanks to our sponsors for this trip: Planters Bank of Indianola, Jimmy Clayton of Indianola (BBKM board member), Carol Puckett of Jackson (BBKM board member), The Mississippi Delta Blues Society of Indianola, Astrid Fieldler of Seattle, and Marsha Wooten of Indianola.

During Black History Month and Black Music Month, we hosted several music programs as well as health, wellness and fitness programs. Tune in to Black History, a series of gospel concerts, was held on Tuesdays throughout the month of February to commemorate and observe Black History Month and the musical contributions of African Americans to this country.

Featured musical groups included: Greenville Weston High Voices of Liberation, Greenville, MS; Lampton Street A Capella Chorus, Mound Bayou, MS; Solomon Middle School Elite Singers, Greenville, MS; Connected Branches School of Drama, Tutoring and Fine Arts, Indianola, MS; Temple of Deliverance Praise Team, Indianola, MS; T.H.I.S. - Total Harmony In Sync A Capella Singers from Mississippi Valley State University, Itta Bena, MS; and Carver Elementary School Dancers and Carver Elementary School Choir, Indianola, MS. Approximately 175 people came out to support this series of events.

Tune in to Black History

In February we began offering Stretch 'N Play, a children's fun and fitness class targeted for local daycare and Head Start children. Taught by WABG's Vicki Mason, "The Wellness Lady," over 650 kids in the local and surrounding communities have participated so far. The sessions are offered on Wednesdays and Fridays in two 30-minute sessions until April 20, 2012. This program is sponsored by Chevron and it is free!

We're seeking funding to start the program again next school year.

Stretch and Play

For Spring Break we presented Spring Fling, a health, wellness, music and arts program for local youth ages 10-18, March 12-16, 2012. The goal of Spring Fling was to engage students on health-related issues and expose them to music and art activities - both hands on and experiential - throughout the week. Students learned how to make healthier food choices, how to express themselves creatively through music, art and writing, and engaged in at least 30 minutes of physical activity every day.

In partnership with the Sunflower County Library, special guest author Kennedy conducted a reading and workshop on his book The Order of Odd-Fish, which was named by the Smithsonian as one of its Notable Books for Children in 2008. And the finale to wrap up the week on Friday featured a cookout on the museum lawn with several local bands performing, including The Sweetest Downfall from Indianola; blues musician Bill "Howl-n-Madd" Perry; and Southern Halo from Cleveland, MS. Our total attendance was 238 kids.

Several of the high school students who are participants in the BB's Bridge Building Ambassadors Youth Leadership Program assisted with the X-Box gaming, dance class, snack preparation, and administrative tasks. For some of our Ambassadors, Spring Fling was their first experience with full-time employment. Read their reflections and comments about their experience below:

Jamal Thomas, Robert Merritt Jr. High - I enjoyed the whole week of activities and the healthy eating sessions. I also enjoyed working with the local youth of the community and being a leader and monitor for the X-Box Game activities.

Tyler Murray, Indianola Academy - Working at the 2012 Spring Fling at the B.B. King Museum was an eye-opening experience. It allowed me to meet people that I wouldn't have met otherwise. I taught a cheerleading class and helped with the dance class. I loved the interest I saw in young girls in what I was teaching.

Nisheika Kimber, Robert Merritt Jr. High - I think Spring Fling was great and I had a good time working with my fellow Ambassadors. Everyone had fun and just came out to meet new people. It was great to work at the B.B. King Museum and very special.

Dayneisha O'Neal, Robert Merritt Jr. High - I highly enjoyed all the children who came out for Spring Fling, because they all had different personalities. Coming together for a week of fun-filled activities really helped my leadership and communication skills a lot.

School tours have been in abundance since we last wrote you! We have served over 750 children during the months of February and March from not only the Delta, but throughout the state such as 100 Black Men Mentoring Class from Jackson; The Exodus Project, Kosciusko, MS; The Oprah Winfrey Boys and Girls Club, Kosciusko, MS. Fountain Valley School of Colorado, Colorado Springs, Colorado; Holmes Community College, Grenada, MS; Tupelo High School, Tupelo, MS; Hazelhurst High School, Hazelhurst, MS; Tougaloo College, Tougaloo, MS.

As you can see, we've been very busy since the New Year began. We look forward to offering more programs such as the ones mentioned above and serving youth in our community and across the country as the year progresses!

If you are interested in learning more about our education programs and school tour opportunities, please contact our Education Department at 662-887-9539 or info@bbkingmuseum.org.

See you soon at your Museum,

Dion

Wanted! Green Thumb for Garden Assistance

Hey, we'll take some blue fingers, too. It's time to prep our garden to be ready for summer camp and though our staff would love to be out digging in the dirt, we're stuck at our computers. The garden consists of two nice raised beds. We've got some seeds ready to start and more plants on the way. If you'd like to help, please call the Museum and ask for the education department.

B.B. King Homecoming Concert - An Update

We do not yet have a date confirmed. Mr. King's staff is finalizing his tour season and will notify us when dates are set. As soon as the date is determined, we will generate a press release and post to our website and our Facebook page. And of course our faithful newsletter subscribers will get first notice!