Calep H. Emphrey Jr. (May 1, 1949 – April 25, 2017) was an American blues drummer and bandleader, best known as a member of B. B. King's band.
Born in Greenville, Mississippi, he played French horn and saxophone in the school band at Coleman High School, before attending Mississippi Valley State College, where he majored in music. Around 1969, he began playing drums in Little Milton's band, before joining first Freddie King and then Albert King. In 1977, he joined B. B. King's band, "RIP Calep Emphrey", Mount Zion Memorial Fund, April 27, 2017. Retrieved 28 April 2017 remaining a member of King's band until around 2009. He formed his own Calep Emphrey Blues Band, and issued an album, Handcuffed to the Blues, in 2010. Abby Owen, "Calep Emphrey Interview", American Blues News, April 24, 2010]. Retrieved 28 April 2017
Emphrey died in 2017, aged 67. Mary Alford, "Calep Emphrey Jr., longtime drummer for BB King, dies", Delta Democrat-Times, April 26, 2017 . Retrieved 28 April 2017 In 2017 the Killer Blues Headstone Project placed the headstone for Calep Emphry Jr. at Oaklawn Cemetery in Greenville, Mississippi.
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