King of the Blues

The Rise and Reign of B.B. King

By: Daniel De Visé

Narrated by: Cary Hite

Riley “Blues Boy” King (1925-2015) was born into deep poverty in Jim Crow Mississippi. Wrenched away from his sharecropper father, B.B. lost his mother at age 10, leaving him more or less alone. Music became his emancipation from exhausting toil in the fields. Inspired by a local minister’s guitar and by the records of Blind Lemon Jefferson and T-Bone Walker and encouraged by his cousin, the established blues man Bukka White, B.B. taught his guitar to sing in the unique solo style that, along with his relentless work ethic and humanity, became his trademark. In turn, generations of artists claimed him as inspiration, from Jimi Hendrix and Eric Clapton to Carlos Santana and the Edge.

King of the Blues presents the vibrant life and times of a trailblazing giant. Witness to dark prejudice and lynching in his youth, B.B. performed incessantly (some 15,000 concerts in 90 countries over nearly 60 years). Several of his concerts, including his landmark gig at Chicago’s Cook County Jail, endure in legend to this day. His career roller-coastered between adulation and relegation, but he always rose back up. At the same time, his story reveals the many ways record companies took advantage of artists, especially those of color. Daniel de Visé has interviewed almost every surviving member of B.B. King’s inner circle, and their voices and memories enrich and enliven the life of this Mississippi blues titan, whom his contemporary Bobby “Blue” Bland simply called “the man”.

©2021 Grove Press (P)2021 Dreamscape Media, LLC

it's an amazing story

at times the story seemed formulaic. ripped off by promoters, endless touring,etc. but it stayed away mostly from drugs and alcohol, noting he had quit drinking by the time his diabetes got bad. also the author was enamored by the idea that BB was sterile, and could not have fathered the children he claimed in life.

A good look at the King

A great story told through many different interviews and points of view. BB was a kind hearted guitar player that became a King. The reading was well done but I found myself having to adjust the volume a lot. The energy of the reader didn’t carry through all takes of his recording.

This is eye opening and very interesting!

BB King, was one of the greats and will never be forgotten. Anyone who thinks his playing in easy needs to study him more. We in the guitar playing community will always have a special place in our hearts for him and his music.

Excellent

Besides BB Kings personal history, you learn alot o detailed American History. The read learns alot of other names they didn't know before.

A CD would be a nice addition

Great book, but it would be nice if it came with a CD or a link to a page to download digital versions of some of the songs discussed, if it would be too expensive, I would be willing to buy a compilation album separately. Music must be heard to be appreciated it is not enough to read description.

I really enjoyed this. Reinvigorated my love for the blues.

After reading this I bought a new guitar and wrote a blues song. Thanks BB.

What a life!

Learned a lot more of BB’s life and times. He was without a doubt the King of the Blues. Muddy and Wolf not withstanding.