Columnist Joe Delaney: B.B. headlines blues bash

Joe Delaney

Thursday, Aug. 21, 1997 | 3:43 a.m.

BLUES BOSSMAN, Riley B. King, better known the world over as B.B. King, is back in town. Well, almost. ... King's home is here but tonight at 6 p.m., he will be performing in Primm, headlining the Zenith Blues Festival in Buffalo Bill's state-of-the-art Star of the Desert Arena; a five-hour concert.

B.B. King will be joined by the Robert Cray Band, Jimmy Vaughan, and Bluestime featuring Jay Geils. ... King has done more than anyone to raise the blues to an international art form with concert hall status. ... B.B. has made the blues a universal language. ... He is the late Louis Armstrong's successor as our musical ambassador to the world.

In the past five decades, King has won six Grammys, sold millions of albums and been granted four honorary doctorates, the most recent one from Yale University.

King today

Now in his early 70s, he still performs 300 times or more annually, all over the world. ... B.B. has appeared with Frank Sinatra, Bonnie Raitt, the Rolling Stones and U2, in addition to recording with Raitt, U2 and numerous other top pop, blues and jazz stars. ... He has been honored many times for his work with various good causes and was a recent Kennedy Center honoree, carried on national television.

Our first meeting was at WDIA-AM radio in Memphis in the late 1940s when he was spinning records as the Beale Street Blues Boy, later shortened to B.B. ... Our relationship continues close to this day.

If you're not fortunate enough to be with us tonight at the Star of the Desert Arena, you can read all about it in Friday's Las Vegas SUN Accent section feature, "It Happened Last Night." ... King is also slated to play the Desert Inn for the year-end holidays.

For Old-Timers

Reminder: The Second Annual Old-Time Reunion Dinner and Entertainment is set for 6 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 5, this time in the Stardust Convention Center. ... It is for us old-timers who have lived here 30 years or more. ... There will be a reunion performance by Mary and Norman Kaye (Mary Kaye Trio) as one of the performance highlights.

Those who couldn't get in last year are advised to reserve early this year by calling Johann Realty at 382-6336. ... Tickets are $30, tables seat eight, order a table for $240. ... See you there.

Speaking of old-timers, Richmond, Va. radio and TV personality Harvey Hudson is still going strong there in both media. ... Harvey and I go back nearly 50 years to my recording business days. ... He was staying at the Riviera, his favorite hotel here, and visiting with Don Friend, who once was a fixture in various LV lounges.

Star-policy rundown

It's George Carlin-Dennis Blair (Bally's); Kenny Kerr (Debbie Reynolds Hotel); The Bayou Boys, Eddie Raven and Doug Kershaw (Gold Coast); Tom Jones (MGM Grand); Siegfried & Roy (Mirage); Lance Burton (Monte Carlo); Danny Gans (Rio); and Marty Allen, Karon Kate Blackwell and Robbie Howard (Westward Ho. ... Caesars and the D.I. are dark.

Chubby Checker does two shows Friday, 7 & 9 p.m. and Earl Klugh, one show Sunday at 8 p.m. (Boulder Station). ... Glen Campbell performs Sunday, 7 & 9 p.m. (Sunset Station). ... The Disco Divas: Gloria Gaynor, Thelma Houston, Evelyn (Champagne) King and Martha Wash will perform Friday, 9 p.m., at the LV Hilton.

Golden Rainbow's Fifth Annual TODDy Awards will be given in the MGM Grand's "Catch A Rising Star" showroom, 2 a.m. Sunday ... Tickets are just $5, which includes a light buffet. ... G.R. does good work.

Thursday addenda

Nick Lewin headlines MGM's "Catch A Rising Star" through Sunday then resumes Monday with his Maxim Comedy Magic shows. ... Loretta Holloway is back at the Luxor through Aug. 31. ... Marv Koral's All-Stars are a Sunday treat, 5:30-9:30 p.m. (Manhattan Restaurant). ... Sammy Hagar will be in concert Sunday at 7:30 p.m. (Aladdin Theatre for the Performing Arts).

School starts Monday, mind your driving manners. ... If you haven't, please send a tax-deductible check to the SUN Summer Camp Fund. ... See you Friday.