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"SELL MY MONKEY" Written by Riley (B.B.) King Published by Careers (BMG, BMI) Rick Moore grew up in West Tennessee with an intense appreciatioin for R&B. Later on in life, he turned that interest in music into a career as a DJ at a local radio station and then as a blues musician. Moore and his band, Mr Lucky, pay homage to some of the artists who inspired him by covering various blues favorites. Recently, Moore decided to record a crowd favorite, B.B. King's "Sell My Monkey, "for the group's latest album, "Satisfied" (MRL). "Growing up in Tennessee during the '60s, a lot of blues acts would come into town," says Rick Moore, who plays guitar and sings lead vocals for the band. "During that time there was also segregation, so the only way I heard about performances was through the stories from members of the black gospel quartet who came into the station on Sundays. "So one day one of the members came in and told me that he had seen B.B. King perform and he [played] 'Sell My Monkey,"' he continues. "I loved it. Not too long afterward, I got the opportunity to see King perform, and he performed it again." Moore and the band began playing the track as part of their live show, adding their own touches. "B.B.'s version was more swing," says Moore. "Our version of the song is a straight shuffle. We added a slide guitar and harmonica, which aren't in the original. We like to say it's Elmore James meets B.B. King. The Tennessean decided to include"Sell My Monkey" on the current album in order to give listeners a taste of the band in concert. "We began performing it as a closing tune to our live shows, and we began developing a groove," says Moore. "It's very tongue-in-cheek. People reallv get off an it. They get involved, singing the chorus back to us; so it's a lot of fun to perform.

"Moore continues, "The song has a comedic feel to it. Whenever we perform it live, I like to tell the audience a story incorporating some local celebrity. We recently played a festival in Texas, and I used the name of a well- known promoter, and the crowd loved it. Thats what it's all about-entertainment......

By Rashaun Hall
June 24, 2000