Kappa Journal Conclave Issue (Summer 2017)

TO THE CHAPTER INVISIBLE

While at TSU, Abernathy studied under jazz legend and trumpeter Louis Smith. Abernathy left TSU to study music at the Chicago Conservatory. Professionally, Abernathy played in several bands prior to joining the blues band, Pacific Gas & Electric which had several favorite tunes for their core audience. Abernathy moved to playing with a popular showband which backed artists such as Sammy Davis Jr., Nancy Wilson, Gladys Knight, The O’Jays and Diahann Carroll. The majority of his professional career, he played and toured with first blues singer Bobby “Blue” Bland and then with B.B. King. Playing on the road with the late Bobby “Blue” Bland, a 1992 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee, for 13 years led to his long gig with B.B. King.

“Bobby and B.B. for many years were a package show together. Bobby developed problems with his heart, and I asked B.B. to take me on to pay the bills.”

father and the Tennessee State Jazz College band won the na- tional jazz competition. That was in 1946. A forgotten moment in black history, no other black college has ever won it since. Band leader Lionel Hampton almost took the whole band on the road.” His travels with B.B King’s band took Abernathy to cities around the world playing for heads of state. He also played on King’s 1998 Grammy award winning album, “Blues on the Bayou”. His other musical achieve- ments include: • Grammy Award, Makin’ Love is Good for You; • W. C Handy Award for Best Traditional Blues Orchestra • Downbeat Magazine’s Best Instrument Group • Benefit CD “A Very Special Christmas” which raised $65 for the US Special Olympics He was married first to Glenda Cochran and then to Margaret “Peggy” Puckner. Preceded in death by his parents, Abernathy is survived by three daughters Christian, Sydne and Dayla, seven grandchildren, two sisters, Sandra and Pamela, a host of nieces, nephews, other family mem- bers and his numerous bandmates.

On playing with the late blues legend and 1987 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee BB King, Abernathy noted:

“Being part of the BB. King Band is something special. First of all we’ve been blessed to play every night with a ‘legend’ so, you don’t want to mess that up; do you. Then we’ve been together so long that we are truly a family. We’ve seen our children become grown, and lost a few on the way. But it’s an inner strength that you get from Mr. King that makes it happen. I’ve always been amazed at how the band can turn on the switch every night. I don’t think people know what it took to be on stage when they see us. Nobody works like ‘the King’. I’m honored to tag along.”

On biggest thrill in his career, Abernathy recalled:

“That’s a hard one. There have been so many. Meeting so many of the great ones, but, I would have to say playing Carnegie Hall and standing in the same spot my

Publishing achievement for more than 100 years

THE JOURNAL  SUMMER 2017  | 153

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