15-year-old 'Kingfish' is rising blues star in Mississippi, dismisses critics of his weight
theGRIO REPORT - A 15-year-old blues star from Mississippi has suddenly found himself courted by national TV and radio. Even Clarksdale Mayor Bill Luckett is getting in on the act...
A 15-year-old blues star from Mississippi has suddenly found himself courted by national TV and radio. Even Clarksdale Mayor Bill Luckett is getting in on the act.
“Got on Facebook and it caught on fire,” Luckett said, describing the a video showing rising blues sensation Christone “Kingfish” Ingram. “Since (Jan. 2) it has had seven million views.”
Kingfish is inundated with constant performance offers, including offers for custom guitars. He’s performed for First Lady Michelle Obama at the White House.
“Oh, my phone is just … I am surprised it hasn’t blown up,” Kingfish said.
The fame is a shock to the young star, who credits his parents with signing him up for classes at Clarksdale’s Delta Blues Museum. He has been playing gigs since the seventh grade but is stunned at the national attention. “I never thought anything like this would be happening,” Kingfish said. “”No words can describe it. Was the same feeling I got when I met B.B. (King). No words can describe it. B.B. King. No words can describe it, man.”
Although much of the attention has been good, some commenters on Facebook and social media have criticized Kingfish’s weight. But the young star refuses to let that get him down. “If I was 150 pounds people would find a flaw about me. Let ’em talk,” he said.
Kingfish is gearing up for a great career, and his goal is to get two albums out before he turns 20. With a tour next month in France, that could be a real possibility.
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