King and Friends
Eugene Carrier Collection
Feb 1 – May 31, 2024
Feature Gallery
King and Friends
Eugene Carrier Collection
In January 2024, the National Museum of African American Music unveiled the Eugene Carrier Collection, highlighting Carrier’s remarkable career and connection to the legendary B.B. King.
In 1979, Eugene Carrier joined the B.B. King Orchestra as a touring pianist. Over the next decade, he collected memorabilia from both domestic and international tour dates, preserving a unique record of this influential era in music history.
In collaboration with Vanderbilt University, NMAAM worked with Carrier’s widow, Naomi Carrier, to acquire a selection of 46 tour posters from his estate. The King and Friends exhibit showcased these posters, offering visitors insight into the tour dates and the many collaborators who had the privilege of calling B.B. King a friend.