Blues Artist Willie King Here

By Devon Nuckles
The 2004 Blues Artist of the year will perform a free concert Saturday, Oct. 22, at West Virginia University at Parkersburg.

Mississippi native Willie King will appear at 7 p.m. in the college’s Multipurpose Room. The concert is free and open to the public.

“Freedom Creek,” King’s debut album, was his introduction to the blues world. It earned him three awards: Best Blues Album (2000) and Best Male Blues Artist (2001), and, in 2004, “Blues Artist of the Year” honors by Living Blues Magazine.

King was born in Prairie Point, Miss. King and his siblings were raised by his grandparents, who were local sharecroppers. King’s music is described as a “juke joint musical style” by Rooster Blues Records founder Jim O’Neal. In recent years, King has sponsored the Freedom Creek Festival, a gathering of musicians, political activist and barbecue cooks on his farm in Aliceville, Ala.

The college’s free concert is being held as part of WVUP’s Social Justice Program through a special arrangement with West Virginia University. Additional concert information is available by contacting Debbie Richards, executive assistant to the president for policy and social justice, 424-8201.