The friendship is in mortal danger from outside as a New York court has ruled the New York company that produced rock shows for radio in the 1970's, King Biscuit Entertainment Group, has exclusive rights to the name "King Biscuit". King Biscuit Entertainment has leased the rights to a Memphis promoter, Performa Entertainment, who plan a giant music festival with the same name, on the same weekend as the original festival. They also are starting a radio station on Beale Street in Memphis that will commandeer the name from KFFA.
Long considered on of the most authentic Blues festivals in the country, The King Biscuit Blues Festival (KBBF) has been known for its down home atmosphere, free admission, and total dedication to Blues past, present, and future. The festival takes place at various venues around Helena affording fans a venerable Blues-O-Rama experience.
The King Biscuit Hour radio show is credited with bringing Blues to mass media with it's daily noon-time show. The stations listening area included most of the Deep South. Sonny Boy Williamson II, Robert Jr. Lockwood, Pinetop Perkins, among others jammed away listener's Blues for several years and took the music to new commercial levels.
Performa Entertainment plans the King Biscuit Music Festival to include Pop and Hip-Hop acts coordinated with a new radio station from Beale Street and possibly a chain of King Biscuit restaurants. It's ambitious plan would certainly raise the profile of the King Biscuit name once again, and with it the Blues.
The debate rages as to weather eviscerating two long standing Blues institutions will help the Blues or just bury it in corporate conformity. The House of Blues started out as actual Blues clubs but have transformed to multi-genre music venues where Blues is rarely featured, due of course to financial pressures. Performa will no doubt go this route to maximize their profits.
Here comes the headlines but there goes the authenticity.
If you object to evolution of the King Biscuit name you can sign a petition to help convince Performa they are hurting the Blues. If you don't object, please support the new King Biscuit Music Festival.
Just please keep the music alive.
