This powerful and insightful documentary directed by Jon Brewer follows the remarkable life and career of the most recognized bluesman of all time, B.B. King. Narrated by Morgan Freeman, the documentary features a string of famous musicians including Eric Clapton, Bono, Ringo Starr, Carlos Santana, Slash, Bonnie Raitt, Buddy Guy, John Lennon, Ron Wood, Mick Jagger, Bruce Willis and Barack Obama to name a few. All acknowledge that the music of BB. King is so distinctive that with just

“One note … you know it’s him … it’s coming from the center of his heart.”

Blending present day and vintage interviews with rock stars, ex-wives’, friends and family, each one remembers how B.B. King influenced their life and their work.

Since he burst onto the world stage in 1949 until his death in 2005 there has only ever been the one King of the Blues, Riley B. King, affectionately known as B.B. (Blues Boy) King. Since B.B. started recording in the late 1940′s, he has released over 50 albums many of them considered blues classics, like 1965′s definitive live blues album “Live At The Regal”, and 1976′s collaboration with Bobby “Blue” Bland, “Together For The First Time”.

Despite a very slow start where the documentary takes you all the way back to Mississippi to re-live the humble beginnings of Riley B. King before he became Blues Boy King. The director takes us through poverty, segregation but also love and courage, in the Southern U.S. of the Ku Klux Klan. It’s only after the 40 minutes mark that we get into the gravy. The historic footage of B.B. on stage with such bands like The Rolling Stones, U2, as well as clips with B.B. King well in his eighties are precious and provide a powerful statement on his enormous charisma, success and iconic status.

You will learn that “5 things are a requisite to create Blues and it is being sincere, honest, true, real and genuine. If you have those 5 things you can play the blues otherwise you will sound like a parrot repeating something you do not understand”

Definitely worth seeing, beside its occasional repetitiveness and slow start, Blues fans will love hearing about the influence BB King had on the music world. The archival footage is awesome and the soundtrack is just fantastic. To quote Bono, “B.B. is a lesson in grace.”

NXNE (North by Northeast) present the North American Premiere of “BB King: The Life of Riley” on Friday, June 14

Christophe Chanel