King of the Blues

'As someone who has written about Black music history and repeatedly bumped into B.B., I understand the challenge of an accurate chronology of King's life and development as a unique guitar stylist and singular vocalist, and appreciate seeing the work done so well...There's tons of great stuff here that TMZ won't pick up but that readers who crave a great story of American culture will devour.' - Preston Lauterbach, Wall Street Journal 'King of the Blues . . . tracks B.B. King's multifarious career with such efficiency and clarity that surely little of biographical significance remains to be said. . . . [T]he evaluations of King's recordings are comprehensive and almost always judicious.' - Mojo '[De Vis] has an eye for a good story, tells a tale well, and likes a lively quote. . . It's clear that he has done his investigative legwork, both in revisiting the vast range of printed and archival sources and carrying out his own interviews, in person and by correspondence. King's early days require a bit of care and caution for any writer, and it's encouraging that this one carefully unpicks seemingly contradictory accounts [and] pulls together as much documented evidence as we're likely to find at this stage.' - Blues & Rhythm 'Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist De Vise...amply demonstrates his masterful storytelling and research skills in this definitive look at legendary blues musician B.B. King (1925-2015). Informed by his conversations with ""dozens of surviving friends and relatives, bandmates and producers,"" De Vise provides an intimate portrait of a cultural luminary ""whose achievements transcended his genre."" ...Even readers who aren't fans of the blues will be engrossed by this nuanced look at an American icon.' - Publishers Weekly (starred review)