Kelly Price Blames Promoter For No-Show

Parties are pointing fingers for a failed Oct. 14 concert in Pine Bluff, Ark., at which Kelly Price didn’t appear because she claims she wasn’t paid.

Jason Moore – Kelly Price
Essence Music Festival, Louisiana Superdome, New Orleans, La.

The R&B singer was scheduled to perform at Pine Bluff Convention Center at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff Homecoming 2017 Concert with Nicky Parrish and the On Call Band. Problems became apparent when Price posted on Facebook Oct. 14 that she would not be coming because of bad interactions with promoter Jeremiah Johnson.

“I know Mr. Johnson and his partners may want you to believe that they just found out today but Mr. Johnson knew yesterday when he did not send the money that I would not get on the flight this morning,” she wrote. “Mr. Johnson worked with bad intentions from the very beginning. He was hostile and unkind.

“It is wrong for Mr. Johnson to expect me to come to work and NOT be paid. Mr. Johnson says he was going to pay me when I arrived this morning instead of sending the money yesterday as agreed?”

For his part, Johnson told his story to KATV, claiming that the singer was paid a deposit and was to receive the remaining funds upon arrival at the city or several hours before the performance.

“We had sold 800 tickets already,” Johnson told the station. “But we always be prepared so when the artist comes we give them their money either at sound check, or when she got off the plane or two hours prior to her performance.”

Johnson told the station he has provided ticketholders refunds but wants compensation for losses and damage to his reputation. He said he would be getting a lawyer.

Pollstar reached out to all parties involved for comment.