B.B. King in Memphis: Exhibit Opening Reception
Date: Thursday, July 24, 2025
Time: 6:00 – 7:30 PM
Location: Stax Museum of American Soul Music
Admission: Free
REGISTER ON EVENTBRITE
Join us at the Stax Museum for an evening celebrating the opening of B.B. King in Memphis, a new photo exhibition capturing the King of the Blues like never before. This VIP reception will feature:
- A guided tour of the exhibit
- The Stax Museum Lounge Jukebox will feature songs from the B.B. King Labor Day 1982 setlist plus audio of B.B. King live on-air from the WDIA archives
- Beer, wine, and light bites provided by Donelson’s Catering
- Free admission
On Labor Day Weekend 1982, B.B. King performed at Memphis’ then-new Mud Island Amphitheater, closing out its inaugural week with a powerful late-night set. Photographer Alan Copeland documented the moment in stunning black-and-white images—twelve of which, scanned directly from the original negatives, will be publicly displayed for the first time at the Stax Museum.
The exhibit runs July 24 – October 19, 2025, and includes a curated jukebox in the Stax Museum lounge featuring music from the 1982 setlist and rare live-on-air audio from WDIA archives.
This event is free and open to museum supporters, community leaders, music historians, press, and invited guests.
This exhibition and the processing of the Alan Copeland Collection was funded under a grant contract with the State of Tennessee.