A screeching harmonica rang out over M.L. King Boulevard and the 2009 Grammy-nominated Kenny Neal took the stage as the headlining act for the Monday night Bessie Smith Strut.
“After we finish I’m coming down to join you,” he said to a sea of people singing and dancing along M.L. King Boulevard.
“Loretta,” “Let Life Flow” and “Blues Falling Down Like Rain” were among the songs Mr. Neal performed.
Mr. Neal won the 2009 Blues Music Award Song of the Year for “Let Life Flow.”
He also picked up several 2009 Grammy nominations including one for Record of the Year and Song of the Year, according to his website at www.kennyneal.net/news.html.
Rosalind Porter, a first-time strutter, was among hundreds of people dancing on the Bessie Smith lawn during Mr. Neal’s performance.
“This is my first Strut, and I’m here getting down,” Ms. Porter said. “My problem is, I want to be down there with the Soul Re but I want to hear him tonight, too.”
Daxton Bacalman pumped his fist and danced on the sidewalk while watching the show.
“This is bringing home the South,” Mr. Bacalman said while watching the performance.
Young and old people flooded M.L. King Boulevard for the event.
Farther down the boulevard, 70-year-old Emma Jones, of Chattanooga, danced to 49-year-old Tammy Lewis singing “Whatta Man” by Salt N Pepa at a karaoke stand.
“Pick a song. You can’t be scared all of your life,” said Steve Lyles, known as DJ Scuba Steve while entertaining a crowd of people on the boulevard. Then he led about a dozen people in doing the cupid shuffle.
On another block, local musician Jerry Hayes sat in a chair, sang, played a harmonica and tapped a beat with his shoes as several people watched.
“I’m coming with a mike next time,” he said as people continued gathering around him. Some offered money for his show.
“The only reason they haven’t invited me to Riverbend yet is because they haven’t heard of me,” he said.
Leah Blackburn strolled through the crowd with her husband, Vincent, and 3-year-old son, Isaiah. She said she was excited for him to participate in his first Bessie Smith Strut, but he went to sleep when they arrived and slept through most of the event.
Police said no major disturbances occurred during the Strut.
