Memphis musician Blake Rhea, who played bass with Grammy-nominated soul blues group Southern Avenue among other local acts, was shot and killed early Wednesday morning.
The Memphis Police Department said officers responded at 1:13 a.m. to a shooting at 322 S. Cleveland. A male was pronounced dead at the scene, and a male suspect fled on foot, MPD posted on X, formerly known as Twitter.
“The victim and suspect were involved in a verbal altercation before the shooting,” the police department’s post stated.
Contacted late Wednesday evening, Memphis Police Department would not confirm the victim’s identity, telling The Commercial Appeal, “We release names after positive identification has been made and next of kin notification. This is an ongoing investigation.”
However, Rhea’s sister, Kelly Rhea, confirmed on social media that her brother was the victim in the shooting, while numerous friends and bandmates of Blake Rhea’s also confirmed the news of his death on various social media platforms.
In addition to touring with Southern Avenue — including performing as part of this past summer’s Outlaw Music tour with Bob Dylan, Willie Nelson and John Mellencamp — Blake Rhea had been a stalwart of the Memphis scene since the ‘90s, playing with bluesman John Németh, hip-hop group Lord T & Eloise, soul-jazz combo The Gamble Brothers Band and roots songstress Marcella Simien, among others.
A graduate of Memphis University School, where he first took up bass, Rhea went on to attend Rhodes College, where he studied music.
Rhea was a co-founder CYC, an eclectic Bluff City band that blended hip-hop, rock and jazz. In 2013, he joined the rock band American Fiction, who recorded an album with Jimi Hendrix producer Eddie Kramer. Rhea also was part of the band Rabid Villain, which featured Elliott Ives, the longtime guitarist for Justin Timberlake.
In addition to his work on stage and in the studio, Rhea was as an instructor, teaching music at the School of Rock in Germantown.
On Wednesday afternoon members of Memphis’ close-knit music community began posting about Rhea on social media.
Southern Avenue singer Tierinii Naftaly wrote that Rhea was a “a light that will never be forgotten…My heart is breaking for you and your family.”
Soul musician Hope Clayburn posted a remembrance of Rhea on Facebook. “Just heard my friend and amazing Memphis bass player Blake Rhea has passed away,” she wrote. “He played with me and a lot of other great bands here and abroad and was a true master of his craft. May his soul find rest and sending my deepest condolences and comfort to his family and friends.”
Drummer Danny Banks, who played with Rhea as part of Németh’s backing band, wrote, “I’m numb. Can’t believe you’re gone. I just saw you last night… We had some fun times together on the road and in Memphis…I love you Blake Rhea. I love you with all my heart. Can’t believe I’m having to write this. Hold your loved ones close because you never know what will happen.”
Memphis Police Department asks anyone with information on Rhea’s death to call Crime Stoppers at 901-528-2274.
This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Blake Rhea killed in shooting in Memphis: Here’s what we know
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