King of the Blues: The Rise and Reign of B. B. King

'Without a doubt the most important artist the blues has ever produced,' Eric Clapton.

'No one did more to spread the gospel of the blues,' President Barack Obama.

'One part of me says, "Yes, of course I can play." But the other part of me says, "Well, I wish I could just do it like B.B. King,"' John Lennon.¹

Born into the abject poverty of Mississippi, Riley 'Blues Boy' King (1925-2015) faced immense hardship from a young age. Separated from his sharecropper father and tragically losing his mother at ten, B.B. was left largely alone. Music offered him an escape from the gruelling labour in the fields. Inspired by a local minister's guitar and the recordings of Blind Lemon Jefferson and T-Bone Walker, B.B. honed a unique guitar style that made his instrument truly sing. This distinctive sound, coupled with his tireless dedication and profound compassion, became his enduring legacy. Consequently, he inspired countless artists across generations, from Jimi Hendrix and Eric Clapton to Carlos Santana and The Edge.

King of the Blues provides a compelling look into the remarkable life of this groundbreaking figure. Having witnessed dark prejudice and lynchings in his youth, B.B. committed to an extraordinary performing schedule – more than fifteen thousand concerts in ninety countries over nearly six decades – which, in many ways, was his means of leaving his past behind. His career saw its share of peaks and troughs, yet he always managed to regain his footing. Moreover, his personal journey shines a light on the prevalent exploitation of artists by record companies, particularly those from minority backgrounds.

Daniel de Visé has meticulously researched B.B. King's life, interviewing almost every surviving individual from his closest circle – including family, band members, personal assistants, and managers. Their collective voices and vivid recollections serve to profoundly enrich and animate the story of this Mississippi blues giant, affectionately known by his contemporary Bobby 'Blue' Bland simply as 'the man.'