Musician, Beale Street fixture Preston Shannon dead at 70

Singer and Beale Street fixture Preston Shannon has died. The veteran Memphis R&B performer,  who has battled cancer since the summer, was 70. News of his passing was confirmed by friends on Monday.  

As word of Shannon's passing spread on social media, fans, fellow artists and local music institutions were quick to pay tribute. Noted guitarist Eric Gales posted "Preston Shannon. Wow. No more pain. Rest friend. Icon." The Stax Museum of American Soul Music tweeted out: "Mourning the loss of our friend and King of Beale Street Preston Shannon. Synonymous with #memphismusic. Very sad."

Born in Olive Branch, Miss., Shannon moved to Memphis at the age of 8. While his family was steeped in the culture and music of the Pentecostal church, it was blues and R&B that fired Shannon's imagination. 

Shannon first gained notice in the 1980s as a member of local group Amnesty while still working as a hardware salesman. His big break came after being discovered by soul singer Shirley Brown. Shannon's distinctive vocals, often described as "a cross between Bobby Womack and Otis Redding"  and supple guitar playing, set him on the path professionally.

In the early-'90s, Shannon stepped out on his own, launching a long run as one of the featured acts on Beale Street. Over the next three decades, Shannon would cut a familiar figure in the clubs on Beale, serving as a kind of musical ambassador to the hundreds of thousands of tourists who would visit each year. His efforts would earn Shannon the nickname "The King of Beale Street." 

In the '90s, Shannon also began his solo recording career. Signing with indie label Rounder Records in 1994, he released his critically acclaimed debut, "Break the Ice," featuring contributions from the Memphis Horns.

Shannon's next effort, 1996's "Midnight in Memphis," was produced by Hi Records legend Willie Mitchell, who would prove a frequent collaborator. The pair reunited for Shannon's 1999's record "All in Time." Shannon would release a number of lauded albums over the years, including his 2014 tribute to Chicago bluesman Elmore James, titled "Dust My Broom." 

While continuing to perform on Beale, later years saw Shannon making main stage appearances at the Beale Street Music Festival, and appear on NBC's music contest "The Voice." 

Shannon's last major performance came this October when he appeared at the Memphis Music Hall of Fame ceremonies, helping induct blues legend Frank Stokes along with folk-pop star Maria Muldaur.