B.B. King: The Life of Riley

Morgan Freeman narrates this well-rounded profile of blues musician Riley “B.B.” King, who began life in 1925 as the son of Mississippi sharecroppers. As a structuring device, director Jon Brewer here draws on an annual visit by King to his Delta birthplace, along the way adding comments from friends and relatives, accompanied by photos and archival performances from King and those who have inspired him, such as Django Reinhardt and T-Bone Walker. Blues contemporaries, including Buddy Guy and Bobby “Blue” Bland, also offer reminiscences. After his parents split up, King's mother died from complications due to diabetes (a condition he shares), and he was raised by a succession of relatives. King developed an interest in the guitar at an early age, and picked up paying gigs after moving to Memphis, where he worked as a disc jockey. Once King started touring, he never stopped, and he doesn't consider it unusual to play 365 days a year (although that workload did contribute to the end of his first marriage). King also acknowledges a weakness for the ladies, saying, “I never met a woman that I didn't like.” With the rise of British blues-rock in the 1960s, King's audience actually grew larger, particularly after he released the pop hit “The Thrill Is Gone,” which added strings to his sound, and he toured with the Rolling Stones. Collaborations and more tours with U2 and Eric Clapton in later years would continue to expand his reach. B.B. King: The Life of Riley pays tribute to the electric blues that King popularized as much as the man himself, and includes commentary from several high-profile fans and practitioners, including John Mayall, Leon Russell, and Bonnie Raitt. Extras include extended interviews and a 2011 performance from London's Royal Albert Hall. Recommended. Aud: C, P. (K. Fennessy)