Landmark Lanes bowling general manager Vince Pollard (left) with R&B star Chris Brown during the artist's surprise visit in Peoria on Saturday, June 1, 2024.

PEORIA — What did R&B superstar Chris Brown do with downtime in Peoria?

“He went bowling,” said Vince Pollard, Landmark Lanes’ bowling general manager. “He’s actually not too bad. But what a night for us. What an experience. I’m still stunned.”

Brown turned up in a surprise visit to Landmark Lanes on Saturday. He has been in Peoria on covert practice sessions for his tour, on which he’ll perform in Chicago this weekend.

He chose the Peoria Civic Center for these rehearsal sessions, something other artists have done secretly in Peoria over the years when they want a venue in which they can shake out their songs and setups ahead of performing elsewhere.

So Saturday night in Peoria, Brown’s tour bus pulled up and an entourage of about 50 joined him on the lanes at Landmark, which was once a destination venue for the PBA Tour.

“I got a phone call from his manager, asking if we were busy,” Pollard said. “He said, ‘Chris Brown would like to know if he can come bowl there at 10 p.m.?’

“I said, ‘The Chris Brown? That Chris Brown? Well, yes.

“We got a security team together and created a VIP section for him. They stayed to about midnight.”

Brown was joined by his dancers from the show, traveling staff, private security and some friends. They set up over eight lanes while Pollard cranked up the facility’s jukebox, including some of Brown’s songs, of course.

“The dancers danced on the lanes,” Pollard said. “And Brown danced a little bit, too. It was impressive, after those guys danced for 10 hours on a stage at the Civic Center, and now they were doing it at a bowling alley for fun.”

R&B star Chris Brown autographed a bowling pin at Landmark Lanes for bowling general manager Vince Pollard during Brown's surprise visit in Peoria on Saturday, June 1, 2024.

Brown’s music has been described as a blend of traditional R&B with hip hop and pop. Through 2023, he had sold more than 217 million records worldwide, and is referred to within the industry as the “King of R&B.”

His accolades include a Grammy Award, 19 BET Awards, 4 BET Hip Hop Awards, 4 Billboard Music Awards, 5 American Music Awards, 60 ASCAP Awards, 49 BMI Awards,14 Soul Train Music Awards, 3 MTV Video Music Awards and more.

Brown is the second-most decorated artist in the history of the BET Awards, behind Beyonce. He is also tied with Bruno Mars as the second-most decorated artist in the history of the Soul Train Awards.

“I have all of his music,” Pollard said. “His song, Heat, is my favorite. He came in here and had fun, and was very appreciative. He signed a bowling pin for me, took pictures. He was terrific.”

‘Most famous person I’ve ever met in my life’

R&B star Chris Brown's tour bus parked outside Landmark Lanes in Peoria during his surprise visit on Saturday, June 1, 2024.
Pollard is no stranger to the local bowling season, a longtime competitor in Peoria’s Tournament of Champions and a man who is part of three generations of bowlers who’ve rolled 300 games.

When his father, Darnell, died he took over his trademark pink bowling shoes, and Pollard wears them in his honor.

Pollard became Landmark’s general manager/bowling about 16 months ago. Now he’s played host to a superstar artist.

His impressions?

“Chris Brown used a house ball,” Pollard said. “Just picked one out and rolled a 112, 89, 117 and 135. I’d say he was among the top 5 in his entourage.”

As of Sunday, there was a video of Chris Brown bowling a strike on his Instagram story. When the group was done, Pollard contacted Peoria police and asked them to assist with crowd control, as about 100 people had gathered outside in Landmark’s parking lot, waiting for superstar.

“He’s easily the most famous person I’ve ever met in my life,” Pollard said.