On Friday evening, B.B. King will travel to Erie, PA for a performance at the Warner Theatre. King will be sure to make it to town well before the gig, however, for a ceremony in his honor. Mayor Joseph E. Sinnott will proclaim Friday, March 14th, 2008 ‘B.B. King Day' in the city of Erie. The octogenarian bluesman is a seemingly tireless performer who will travel from Erie to Buffalo for a performance on Saturday night, which he then will follow up with over 30 upcoming gigs across the country through his appearance at the Bonnaroo Music Festival in June.

The official proclamation reads (with some slight bluster from Mayor Sinnott):

Whereas, B.B. King, born Riley B. King, on a plantation in Itta Bena, Mississippi in 1925, hitchhiked to Memphis, Tennessee in 1947 to pursue his musical career, playing street corners for change and sometimes in as many as four towns a night; and

Whereas, Mr. King, one of the most influential guitarists of our time, has had a major impact on the development of modern blues and rock music, influencing such musical greats as George Harrison, Buddy Guy, Eric Clapton and Stevie Ray Vaughan to name only a few; and

Whereas, B.B. King is one of the most honored musicians of all time, he is a member of the Blues Hall of Fame, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, he has been awarded seven Grammy Awards as well as the Grammy's coveted Lifetime Achievement Award, the Presidential Medal of the Arts and has his own Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame; and

Whereas, B.B. King's most identifiable trademark is his guitar Lucille, with B.B. since 1949, Lucille is credited with taking B.B. a long way throughout his illustrious career, keeping him alive and putting  food on his table, she has stayed with him continually, playing nothing but the blues; and

Whereas, Mr. King continues to tour extensively, still averaging over 250 concerts per year, performing before a live audience, which B.B. feels is the most important aspect of being a blues artist;

and NOW, THEREFORE, I Joseph E. Sinnott, Mayor of the City of Erie, in recognition of his musical accomplishments, wish to honor Mr. B.B. King for his lifetime commitment to that which is his passion, for sharing his time and talents with each of us here this evening and do proclaim this Friday, March 14th 2008, B.B. KING DAY in the City of Erie and call upon our citizens to join with me in recognition of this Blues Legend.