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    • Blake Rhea killed in Memphis shooting: We know that
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    Blake Rhea killed in Memphis shooting: We know that

    Eira Gwyneth Posted on

    This story has been updated with additional information from the Memphis Police Department.

    Memphis musician Blake Rhea, who played bass with the Grammy-nominated soul-blues group Southern Avenue among other local acts, was shot and killed early Wednesday morning.

    Memphis police said officers responded to a shooting at 322 S. Cleveland at 1:13 a.m. A man 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 prior to the shooting,” the police post said.

    Late Wednesday, Memphis police confirmed that Rhea was the victim and noted that the investigation is ongoing.

    Suspect arrested: Man charged in fatal shooting of Memphis musician Blake Rhea

    Memphis police have arrested 51-year-old Edward Wurl and charged him with first-degree murder in the shooting, according to documents in the Shelby County Criminal Justice portal.

    In addition to his tours with Southern Avenue – including his appearance on last summer’s Outlaw Music tour with Bob Dylan, Willie Nelson and John Mellencamp – Blake Rhea has been a fixture on the Memphis scene since the ’90s, playing with the bluesman John Németh, including the hip-hop group Lord T & Eloise, the soul-jazz combo The Gamble Brothers Band and the roots singer Marcella Simien.

    A graduate of Memphis University School, where he first learned bass, Rhea then attended Rhodes College, where he studied music.

    Rhea co-founded CYC, an eclectic band from Bluff City that blended hip-hop, rock and jazz. In 2013, he joined the rock band American Fiction, which recorded an album with Jimi Hendrix producer Eddie Kramer. Rhea was also part of the band Rabid Villain, which featured Justin Timberlake’s longtime guitarist Elliott Ives.

    In addition to his work on stage and in the studio, Rhea worked as an instructor and taught 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 light that will never be forgotten… My heart breaks for you and your family.”

    “A light that will never be forgotten”: Tribute to murdered Memphis musician Blake Rhea

    Soul musician Hope Clayburn posted a memory of Rhea on Facebook. “I just heard that my friend and great Memphis bassist Blake Rhea has passed away,” she wrote. “He played with me and many other great bands at home and abroad and was a true master of his craft. May his soul find rest and I send 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 deaf. I 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. I can’t believe I have to write this. Hold on to your loved ones because you never know what will happen.”

    Memphis police are asking anyone with information about Rhea’s death to contact Crime Stoppers at 901-528-2274.

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    Eira Gwyneth
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