When BB King Played His Guitar in Sing Sing Prison

It takes a certain kind of bravery and heart to perform inside a prison. Johnny Cash was well known for his performance at Folsom Prison in 1968. As part of a more humane approach to correctional facilities at the time it was not uncommon for prisons to bring in top performers. One such performance in 1973 happened at what had been one of the harshest prisons in the US with one of the worst reputations: Sing Sing Correctional Facility. And it was during this concert that famed blues musician BB King overcame his concerns about playing in such an environment to have what he later referred to as one of his best concerts.

No doubt the holidays have to be some of the hardest days inside a prison. Perhaps that’s why it must have been quite special for the inmates when filmmaker David Hoffman brought in several phenomenal acts to perform for the prisoners on Thanksgiving Day in 1973. BB King was one, and Joan Baez was another, and the show was hosted by Good Times actor Jimmie “JJ” Walker.

The performances were filmed as part of the film Sing Sing Thanksgiving, a documentary released the same year. Hoffman had been teaching inmates some filmmaking techniques and asked the prison management if a concert would be possible and they agreed. As a nod to prisoners’ rights the artists performed for free and a small grant from an independent source covered the filmmaking costs.

BB King was a legend in the blues scene and performed in heart-rending shows where he moved his audience like few other performers could. But, this 1973 show at Sing Sing had King worried. Sing Sing had a reputation as one of the toughest prisons in the US and still does. Not only are the realities harsh, but the prison was used as the backdrop for many movies and books in the 1940s and 1950s, giving it a reputation that even law-abiding folks were familiar with. But, nevertheless the inmates inside were appreciative of the concert, enthusiastically calling back when King would ask a question or make a joke.

Fans of King over the years noted his warm and personable conversational style, which left people feeling connected to him after only a few minutes. It seemed the inmates felt the same way. With his trusty guitar, Lucille, King went on to have what he considered his greatest show at the time. He had been performing for decades when this clip was recorded so that tells you something about the caliber of this show!

Have a look at King performing the 1940s song “How Blue Can You Get” at Sing Sing in the video below.