The world of music was shaken when one of the region’s great original bluesmen, Earl “the Pearl” Banks, passed away this August 7th at the age of 89. Most recently in his residency at Blues City Cafe, where I myself joined his band sometimes, or in other venues over the decades, Earl was a journeyman blues troubadour who lived the music and carried it deep within his soul. (For a fuller recounting of Earl’s life, see the Local Treasures feature I wrote about him for Memphis Magazine.) He was Memphis through and through, and the fact that he disliked traveling made him all the more beloved locally.
I counted him as a great friend, but many who encountered him did. That will be apparent this weekend, when a series of memorial events will take place in Earl’s honor. For starters, there’s the wake/visitation at M.J. Edwards Funeral Home (1165 Airways Boulevard) this Friday, August 22nd, 4 to 7 p.m.
Then, on Saturday, August 23rd, a full day of celebrating Earl’s life will begin at 10 a.m., with the funeral service at New Bethel Missionary Baptist Church (7786 Poplar Pike).
After that, there will be a Memorial Procession on Beale Street in his honor, beginning at 1 p.m. And then at “a quarter to four” will come the blues, and a true Celebration of Life, as musicians that performed with Earl (full disclosure: including myself) gather to play informal sets at Neil’s Music Room (5725 Quince Road).
3:45-4:20 p.m.:
The classic Earl ‘the Pearl’ and the People of the Blues:
• Ralo Brown: drums (Earl’s drummer)
• Freddie King Harris (Earl’s bassist)
• Jacob Huffman: harp/vocals (Earl’s harp player)
• Jad Tariq: guitar/vocals (Earl’s guitarist)
• John Hay: guitar/vocals (Earl’s guitarist)
• Gerald Stephens: keys
4:25-4:45 p.m.:
• Blind Mississippi Morris: vocal/harp
• David Hudson: harp
• Brad Webb: guitar
• Dan Cochran: bass
• Terry Saffold/Neal Rudgley: drums
• Alex Greene: keys
4:50-5:15 p.m.:
The Beale Street Session, A Tribute to Earl
• Ashley Bishop: guitar
• Christina Vierra: vocals
• Chris Pitts: guitar
• Jeremy Powell: keys
• Tate Masson: bass
• Tim: drums
5:20 – 6pm:
Another Earl ‘the Pearl’ band with Big Don Valentine on vocals, followed by a jam:
• Ralo Brown: drums (Earl’s drummer)
• Freddie King Harris (Earl’s bassist)
• Jacob Huffman: harp/vocals (Earl’s harp player)
• Jad Tariq: guitar/vocals (Earl’s guitarist)
• John Hay: guitar/vocals (Earl’s guitarist)
• Alex Greene: keys
As the organizers of Saturday’s events noted on social media, “Wear something green.” It was Earl’s favorite color.
