5 Things That Bring B.B. King Back to Maine

Interview by Steve Luttrell

When we contact road manager Sherman Darby to set up a chat with blues legend B.B. King, the band is on their bus, 30 miles from New Orleans. “We’ll be arriving at our hotel in half an hour,” Sherman says. “Call and ask for Pump Davidson.” We call Room 2314, ask for Pump Davidson. The operator says there is no Pump Davidson in the hotel. We call Sherman back, and he laughs, “Well, you might as well call back and ask for B.B. King.”

What are five reasons that keep you coming back to Maine?

B.B. King 1: Staying at the Holiday Inn by the Bay

B.B. King 2: They serve me lobster when I’m there. I am a seafood eater—I see food and eat it!

B.B. King 3: Maine is the kind of place where you can tell your band, play it like you feel it.

B.B. King 4: Did I mention lobster?

B.B. King 5: Maine is a laid back and beautiful place. You feel welcome there, it reminds me of New Zealand. After a show, everything’s relaxed enough so that I can talk with teenagers who come and admire my playing. I started a tradition of giving them guitar picks I’d used during the show. Now the older teenagers love them, too.