‘The King Beez’ take center stage at the AMP in downtown Jackson

JACKSON, Tenn. — Jackson residents grabbed their lawn chairs and blankets and gathered to sing and dance the night away.

The Amp in downtown Jackson brings a little piece of the ‘Bluff City’ to the Hub City.

The King Beez is a live band from Memphis that combines the blues, jazz, r&b and many other favorites to get the audience on their feet.

Co-lead singer, Eric Pierce shares what he is most excited to perform.

“I’m gonna really enjoy doing a lot of the Memphis songs. ‘Let’s stay together’, ‘Love and happiness’ those are some of the favorite songs that I see that are Memphis songs. We’re also gonna do ‘Sweet Carolina’ which is a family favorite and we’re gonna do a little bit of Elton John as well,” said Pierce.

After performing on Beale Street at the B.B. King’s Club, Pierce shares how the band got its name.

“Well what should we call ourselves and the guy said ‘You know what?’ The King Beez cause y’all working at B.B. Kings and you guys are the kings so y’all are the King Beez, so there in the name,” said Pierce.

Pierce is also from the Jackson area, attending Jackson Central Merry and South Side High School, he shares how it feels to be home.

“More than anything, this is therapy for me. It’s therapy, it really is and it’s a ‘coming home’ therapy kind of thing so it makes me miss it even more,” said Pierce.

He also shares his secret to staying energetic on stage.

“I’m just really into what they’re doing and I’m looking at the audiences reactions and that generates so much energy in me and I’m jumping all over the stage because I’m excited I can see their excitement,” said Pierce.

Pierce hasn’t always been a performer, but he says he knew this lifestyle was made for him.

“I went to a job, a 9-5 and something clicked in me and said ‘What are you doing, this is not what you love’ and I got up that day and said I have to leave and I told my supervisor I have to go and he said ‘Why? And I said ‘this is not what I’m supposed to do’,” said Pierce.

Overall the crowd enjoyed the performance, there was lots of dancing, singing along, and smiling faces.

The next Amp performance will be July 26 at 7:30 p.m. where ‘Magi’ will perform.

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