Thirteen Films, producers of the American Masters series, presents a new documentary coming February 12 at 9 PM (check your local listings) to PBS to celebrate black history month - B.B. King: The Life of Riley. The documentary will feature a treasure trove of whose who in the music, brought together to pay tribute to the iconic King. Bono, Eric Clapton, Aaron Neville,John Mayer, Bonnie and Ringo share their own perspective on King and what he meant to them and their careers.
B. B. King was born Riley B. King September 16, 1925 on a plantation in Itta Benna Mississippi. From those very humble beginnings, King would rise and become probably the most respected Blues musician ever. It is all chronicled in B. B. King: The Life of Riley. Directed by Jon Brewer, the great Morgan Freeman narrates. Made with the full co-operation of the B.B. King Museum, director Brewer spent two years working on the film and finished just before King's death in 2015. The life and challenges face by the great slate of interviewees.
A treasure for all fans will be the rare archival footage interspersed throughout the film, along with B.B. King's reminiscences about his life and journey, the ugliness of the racism he experienced. From the press notes on the PBS website, executive producer, Michael Kantor had this to say about King, "B.B. King became America's most recognizable and influential blues musician. The thrill isn't really gone yet - I think anyone who sees this film will be thrilled and inspired by this legendary artist."
Be sure to check out this exciting documentary February 12 at 9PM (check your local listings) on PBS of this great American legend and national treasure. February is Black History Month and PBS is honoring the great Americans of color. B. B. King did what he loved and overcame the greatest of poverty to become of the most cherished and recognized American musicians. B.B. proved it wasn't your color that made you. It was what you had inside.
