Life and Legacy of B. B. King: A Mississippi Blues Icon

Diane Williams

Dec 2021 · Arcadia Publishing

About this ebook

This biography of the iconic blues musician features interviews with family members, fellow musicians, and those who knew his best.

Born on a cotton plantation in 1925, Riley B. King would grow up to be one of the most influential blues musicians of all time, being crowned "The King of the Blues." Never wavering from his vocation, King gathered other musicians together and melded them into the unique blues sound that would become his signature.

In this intimate portrait of B. B. King, author Diane Williams offers a brief account of the monumental blues man's life before settling in for a series of interviews with his bandmates and beloved family members. The Life and Legacy of B. B. King offers an intimate view of the man behind the music.

Ratings and reviews

Great book about a Great Man.

About the author

Diane Williams calls herself a "narratologist." She is a professional performing artist/storyteller, teaching artist, author, poet and mixed-media fiber artist whose tapestries often tells stories. She is former board chair for the National Storytelling Network and former board member and Life Member of the National Association of Black Storytellers. She is a recipient of the Zora Neale Hurston Award and the Oracle Award for Regional Leadership and Service in Storytelling. Three of the books she either authored or edited have won Storytelling World Awards. She is retired from a position in state government as director of grants for the Mississippi Arts Commission. Her writings are included in anthologies and literary journals, and her fiber art has been included on the cover of literary journals. Diane is currently on the Mississippi Humanities Council's Speakers Bureau. She is also a member of the Mississippi Craftsmen's Guild, and her artwork has been exhibited and lives in the collections of museums. She has exhibited in galleries and artistic and community venues around the region.