B.B. King
The Road, the Guitar, the Throne
€6.40
DOWNLOADABLE E-BOOK
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B.B. King was never just a bluesman – he was the blues in a suit and tie, a storyteller with six strings and a voice that could soothe or sting depending on the weather. This lively and richly detailed ebook explores the extraordinary journey of the man born Riley B. King, from the dusty fields of Mississippi to the gilded stages of the world, tracing how he turned personal pain and rural rhythms into global resonance. But don’t expect a dry museum tour or a syrupy hagiography – this is B.B. King as he lived: sharp-witted, unflinchingly honest, endlessly stylish, and above all, musical to his bones.
Told with warmth, wit, and a foot-tapping rhythm of its own, the book spans 20 chapters that move through the key stages of King’s life: his gospel beginnings, his radio years as “Beale Street Blues Boy,” his marathon touring days, and his emergence as an international icon who played for presidents, popes, and plenty of folks who couldn’t name a single scale but knew when a note was true. Along the way, readers meet Lucille, his beloved guitar with a name and a backstory worthy of a soap opera, and encounter the cast of musical brothers, producers, and oddball road characters who helped shape (or survive) his epic ride.
The final chapters offer a look at B.B. in his later years – not as a fading star, but as a seasoned performer who slowed the tempo without ever losing the groove. From the bright lights of Vegas to late-career collaborations with everyone from Eric Clapton to U2, B.B. King remained committed to his craft until the very end, teaching the blues to behave one soulful solo at a time.
An extensive appendix rounds out the portrait, with a timeline of B.B.'s life, a curated discography, essential collaborations, gear and technique breakdowns, key awards, and a look at some of his most memorable lyrics. Whether you're a lifelong fan or a curious newcomer wondering why every guitarist talks about "tone" like it's a religion, this ebook offers a fresh, funny, and heartfelt look at the life and music of one of the true kings of American sound.
It’s more than a biography – it’s a celebration. And like B.B. himself, it’s got stories to tell, a few jokes up its sleeve, and a note that lingers just long enough to make you feel something.