The Penny King’s get together every second Saturday night at Westy’s, 346 North Main Street, and “do what they do!” Pictured (from left) are Mike Forrest (electric guitar), vocalist Maria Spence, David Lee (bass guitar), and Allen Rankin (drums). Story and Picture by Dr. Yvonne D. Nelson Westy’s is a quaint little restaurant in between two Memphis Area Transit Authority (MATA) trolley stops on Main Street. Located at 346 North Main Street, Westy’s is open year around from 10:30 AM until 3 AM daily. On the night of August 10, 2019, the restaurant advertised a going away party for Jimmy Ogle, a well-known Memphisborn historian, who has held many titles during his lifetime including that of being the unique individual who can identifiy each manhole cover design found in downtown Memphis. Well, I thought I caught a glimpse of Jimmy, but I guess I never did — not that night anyway. What I did catch a glimpse of was the band known as “The Penny Kings,” featuring Maria Spence, Mike Forrest, David Lee, and Allen Rankin. “We’ve all been playing around town for many years,” said Spence. “We got together as a group to do a blues service at Calvary Church, liked what we heard, and started playing gigs.” The Penny Kings are second Saturday regular performers at Westy’s and they made “a little fuss” later in the night including “a rousing Ode to Jimmy O.” The band will be at Westy’s, on Saturday, September 14, 2019, from 9:30 until closing and they will be performing at the Overton Park Golf house on Wednesday, September 18, 2019 from 6—8 PM. 13
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