THE BLUES BALL... THROUGH THE YEARS
Posters • Invitations • Program Covers
1994	1995	1996	1997	1998
1999	2000	2001	2002	2003
2004	2005	2006	2007	2008

Each fall, partygoers from around the globe arrive in Memphis for The Blues Ball, a celebration of the music that changed the world—Memphis Music. From the Hollywood Hills to the Upper East Side, The Blues Ball is attended by one of the most eclectic crowds ever assembled. "We always sell The Blues Ball out the first day, 2,500 seats," Pat Kerr Tigrett, founder and general chairman, said. "The secret is the extraordinary musicians. Despite the name, the focus at The Blues Ball is on all kinds of Memphis Music, from rock to gospel," she said. Each year the artists that shaped the Memphis Sound attend and perform at The Blues Ball. Legendary B.B. King, Soul Man Isaac Hayes, wild man Jerry Lee Lewis, Bobby Blue Bland, Reverend Al Green, Eddie Floyd, Jason D. Williams, Ruby Wilson, The BarKays, and the late Carl Perkins and Rufus Thomas have been just a few of the legends to play the Ball.

Celebrating its Fifteenth Anniversary this year, The Blues Ball has been held in numerous locales including the world-renowned Peabody Hotel, the Gibson Guitar Factory, the Central Train Station, Memphis Cook Convention Center, and Memphis' greatest landmark, The Pyramid.

This year we celebrate The Blues Ball's Fifteenth Anniversary on September 27th with a "Hallelujah Homecoming." It will be "back on the streets." We are taking over two city blocks of downtown Memphis - fencing them in with a six foot fence - which will surround the Gibson Guitar Factory; The Westin Memphis Beale Street and their multi-level parking garage; two of Memphis' newest clubs, including Morgan Freeman's Ground Zero and the Red Rooster Bar. We will celebrate our "Hallelujah Homecoming" at this uniquely Memphis party. All of these locations open up onto George W. Lee Street, which will be tinted with over one hundred thousand blue lights.

The Blues Ball will also include the unveiling of the new B. B. King Highway. For the first time, the city of Memphis will be able to see Third Street as B. B. King Highway. To celebrate and commemorate the occasion, fireworks will be set off the top of the FedEx Forum. Our very own B. B. King, King of the Blues truly deserves to be celebrated in style.