| Author | Subject: Fans Fight to Save "King Biscuit" |
| Blues Fest | Posted At 18:49:08 03/08/2006
Fans of the Helena, Arkansas based Blues Festival formerly known as the "King Biscuit Blues Festival" started a grassroots effort to "Keep the Biscuit" in Helena after a New York Company and Memphis based Performa Entertainment forced the non-profit Helena festival to stop using the name. . "The grassroots efforts started with personal letters to the two businesses from talent agents and artist" stated Wayne Andrews, Director of the Festival in Helena," but now the fans are angry and have started an online petition to alert music fans to the confusion about the name and it's move to Memphis." The petition has quickly circulated and has now reached Europe with 2,000 names and comments. New comments are being added every minute. The King Biscuit name started in Helena when a local flower company sponsored the first blues show which featured African American performers. This radio show introduced the blues to a wide audience and made many of the blues legends we know house hold names. In the 1980's a non profit group launched the "King Biscuit Blues Festival" honoring this ground breaking radio show, and the blues. "The town thought they had the right to use the name after signing a contract with the radio station that broadcast the King Biscuit radio show." But a New York Company acquired the name through purchases and court action against the Helena radio station owner and stopped the festival from using the name after failing to reach a licensing deal. "Fans are letting the new owners of the name know that it is not just a name but something very personal to music fans. New York and Performa of Memphis may own the name but they don't own the history of the name." commented Wayne Andrews "This on-line petition has enabled us to share with music fans the story of how our name was taken from us and give the fans a voice." stated Wayne Andrews. To see the petition: http://new.PetitionOnline.com/Biscuit/petition.html |
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