Following months of ill health, famed guitarist and bandleader Earl “The Pearl” Banks passed away this week at his Memphis home.
Banks had a career spanning more than eight decades, making him a veteran of the Memphis blues scene. He received honors including the Beale Street Entertainer of the Year Award and a Brass Note on Beale Street for his performances with some of the biggest stars in R&B and blues.
At the time of his death, Earl “The Pearl” Banks was 89 years old. Beale Street and the larger Memphis community have been profoundly impacted by his contributions to the music scene.
