Crockett, local/house band, may have also been an opening act.

Jim Gillespie’s review of B.B. King in the Star is worth repeating in full:

The Depot was a blues freak’s paradise Sunday night as it presented three fine acts including the incomparable “crown king of the blues, the man himself, B.B. King.” And B.B. is the King, make no mistake about it.

Lazy Bill Lucas, a transplanted Chicago blues pianist now living in town, opened the concert with a short set of traditional songs in his old-time boogie woogie style.

Mojo Buford’s Blues Band then took over and played a fast-paced set of city blues like “Five Long Years” and “Messin’ With the Kids.” Mojo’s harp playing was fine, as usual, and his new back-up group, while sounding a little ragged in spots, was more than adequate.

Then came B.B.’s back-up band, Sonny Freeman and the Unusuals. The band is made up of two saxophonists, a bassist, drummer, pianist and trumpeter. They opened with a heavily jazz-flavored instrumental which featured solos by everyone in the group. Then the King walked on stage to appreciative applause and yells from the near-capacity audience.

With the first knife-sharp notes wrenched from his guitar, it was clear that we were in the presence of one of the masters. King can wring more emotion out of those six metal strings than practically anybody else in the world and that includes his big-name disciples like Mike Bloomfield and Eric Clapton. It’s all the more impressive when you realize that he invented this style almost single-handedly, more than 20 years ago.

But King’s talent is not limited to the guitar. He is also one of the finest blues singers alive, with a powerful voice and a range that extends all the way from a low-down growl to an exquisite falsetto imitation of a woman telling off her man.

The Depot is not the warmest house in the area but King’s amazing stage presence, fine sense of humor and consummate musical ability transformed it into an intimate, friendly place overflowing with good vibes.

A lot of performers don’t seem at their best in Minneapolis because they can get away with playing a sloppy set and still receive the obligatory standing ovation.

But King is one of the finest showmen in the business and he works hard to make sure everyone has a good time. And they did, too. The next time B.B. comes to town, be sure not to miss him. It’s a are and pleasurable experience.

Memories from Robb Henry:

I was playing guitar with Mojo Buford in 1970 and we were fortunate enough to be the opening act on this show at the Depot. We got to meet B.B. King and hang out a bit in the upstairs dressing room. I was 17 at the time and really impressed by how nice and friendly he was. He was one of the few guitar players that ever sent a shiver down my spine with one note, that vibrato.

When we were hanging out at the Depot, there was a woman in the dressing room and B.B. couldn’t recall her name so he discreetly told his valet to introduce himself to her so he could hear her name again. Dick Garrison and I got a big kick out of that slick little scenario. Etiquette lesson from the King.

Sharron Fingerhut Grohoski remembered that Mr. King was in awe of the scene and humbled at the adolation he received. Will Agar:

I still remember that evening at the Depot when, half way through his show, [King] took an intermission in the second floor dressing room. There as a knock on the door and a man came in with a suitcase. He opened it and it was full of cash-payment for the evening’s work and insurance that B.B. would finish the second half of his performance!