R.I.P. Joseph "Joey Kingfish" Stribling (b. 02/25/38 d. 04/19/14)
I only saw Joseph "Joey Kingfish" Stribling play a few times. But, from the first time I saw him at the Attic Bar in 2005, sitting in with the Blues In The City band, I realized that he was the real, Blues deal. Then I saw him a few times in 2011 & 2012 - at least twice at AJ's Cafe in Ferndale, playing with Charles "Buddy" Smith, McKinley Jackson and others in a couple of Guinness Record Book Breaking Assembly Line Concerts.
Here's what our mutual friend and extraordinary vocalist Charles "Buddy" Smith says - " His passing has put a real void in my life. I've known him for years - since we were kids. I was fortunate enough to have Kingfish appear on my most recent CD. He was one of the first real guitar masters - the go-to guitar player around here. He worked with everybody, the Holidays, Tommy Clark, Diamond Jim Riley, Johnnie Mae Mathews and Aretha. We've lost a fantastic musical artist."
I wish I had heard "Kingfish" play long before that time at the Attic Bar, and that I had seen him many more times than I did. I'm reminded of that Keb Mo song with the words that go " . . .if you love somebody (love their music), you better let them know (and go listen to them make their music) right now, cause you're going to look around one day and they'll be gone."
On June 2, 2014, musician friends of Joseph "Joey Kingfish" Stribling, and other friends and neighbors from his Royal Oak, MI Co-op, gathered to memorialize this great local Bluesman. Starting at photo #24 are some photos from that wonderful musical celebration of the music and the man - Joseph "Joey Kingfish" Stribling.
Read MoreHere's what our mutual friend and extraordinary vocalist Charles "Buddy" Smith says - " His passing has put a real void in my life. I've known him for years - since we were kids. I was fortunate enough to have Kingfish appear on my most recent CD. He was one of the first real guitar masters - the go-to guitar player around here. He worked with everybody, the Holidays, Tommy Clark, Diamond Jim Riley, Johnnie Mae Mathews and Aretha. We've lost a fantastic musical artist."
I wish I had heard "Kingfish" play long before that time at the Attic Bar, and that I had seen him many more times than I did. I'm reminded of that Keb Mo song with the words that go " . . .if you love somebody (love their music), you better let them know (and go listen to them make their music) right now, cause you're going to look around one day and they'll be gone."
On June 2, 2014, musician friends of Joseph "Joey Kingfish" Stribling, and other friends and neighbors from his Royal Oak, MI Co-op, gathered to memorialize this great local Bluesman. Starting at photo #24 are some photos from that wonderful musical celebration of the music and the man - Joseph "Joey Kingfish" Stribling.
