Norway town delivers BB King throne

BB King on his throne

You might think that the Mississippi Delta has few things in common with the kingdom of Norway. But you'd be wrong.
For one thing, they both have a king. But the similarities don't end there. MPB arts reporter Ron Brown has the story.

Since the BB King museum opened its doors last September, thousands of blues fans have made the pilgrimage to the small dusty Delta town of Indianola. Of course some fans come from farther away than others.

“My name is Lise Wiik. I’m the mayor of Notodden. It’s a small municipality about 12-thousand 3-hundred inhabitants.”

Notodden, is in Norway, that’s nine thousand miles in actual distance from the delta, but very close in spirit. Notodden is one of Europe’s most celebrated blues cities.

“Every year we have a big blues festival and about 30-thousand people come to Notodden to take part in the blues festival.”

People like Terje Malm who also came to the delta from Notodden. He believes the blues transcend nationality and ethnicity and take root in much deeper places.

“It appeals to the soul and your heart. And when people get together and hear this type of music, it’s very enjoyable.”

Terje and Lise and several other blues fans from Notodden came to the delta to enjoy themselves, of course, but they’re also on an official visit. They brought along something special, something fit not just for any king, but for the one and only BB King - A custom made royal throne.

“I think it’s very special. And it’s a Norwegian carpenter who has made it. So we hope that BB King will like it.”

“There he is.. hey BB!”

The Norwegians timed their visit to coincide with BB King’s annual trip home to Indianola on Friday. It’s something he’s done every year since 1963 out of respect for his hometown.

“I have a lot of people here that I love. I have a lot of people here that’s been good to me through the years. I have a lot of people that’s been good to me when I was picking cotton. They was good to me then. They’ve been good to me all through the years. How can I forget?”

King conducts a guitar workshop for area kids during his visits home and he also performs a concert and even though he pays his band, he does not accept a dime in return from Indianola. When BB King comes back home, he’s usually the one giving. But this trip, the tables were turned.

“Oh, I can’t believe this."
"You like it?" "Yes."
"I brought it here all the way from Norway."
"Oh my gosh. How did you get all this all the way from Norway?"
“It’s to honor you, because we love you.”
"May I kiss your hand?"
"Thank you."

The throne is made of pine and painted gold. The cushioning is a soft royal red. The back and head rest stands nearly 6 feet tall and the design cleverly incorporates the neck and head stock of King’s legendary guitar. Inge Mikkelsen, a BB King and blues devotee, designed and built it.

“I think I had to make something special on the throne. And what was more special than the Lucille guitar?”

The throne will remain in Indianola at the BB King museum as a special gift from the people of Notodden. King says it will serve as a reminder that music born in the delta has the power to move people regardless of their race, language or culture.

Lise Wiik: “I think the blues music is very good for Norwegian. It’s suitable for our soul and mind I think.”
BB King: “I want people around the world to know about the type of music we play, and we got a lot of good people in Mississippi. And we’re just people that love people.”

The cities of Indianola and Notodden have agreed to become sister cities and embrace their similarities, where one is ruled by the king of Norway, the other the king of the blues. For MPB News, I’m Ron Brown