Customer Reviews

Blues All Around Me: The Autobiography of B.B. King

5 star:		(23)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
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Wow, I just finished reading this biography and am truly satisfied with my reading. It's been a long time since I read a book this refreshing. Talk about honesty, passion and heart.
The last 3 chapters were especially entertaining, talking from the heart about issues generally left untouched. From page one, I couldn't put the book down.
This book really helps you understand B.B's live performances. For anyone who as seen B.B. King live sometimes gets the feeling that his performance is a routine that dates back 25 years (well, I now know it is!), but this fact doesn't bother my anymore, understanding where the man comes from, better understanding his way of doing things.
Recommended for blues fans and anyone interested in a very entertaining read.

I can't remember a time I didn't know who B.B. King was, but only in the past few years did I own any of his music. Always a Rock & Roll fan I only discovered it's roots in Blues and Jazz in the past few years. Now I can't get enough of the Blues. I read this book before a much anticipated B.B. King concert I recently attended. I would highly recommend the book, not to mention the Concert. That's the remarkable thing about B.B. King, if you want to see him in concert in a city near you just wait. Even now in his late 70's, B.B. is still on tour booking 250 to 300 one night stands per year. He's been doing this for over 50 years! His autobiography, told in his own simple and patient voice, tells a complete story of this remarkable man. This book reveals the personality and character of B. B. King in a way that no "tell all" biography could. Along the way you also learn much about the history of 20th century music. B.B. is the king of blues, but as his book reveals he has a complex understanding of all forms of modern music. He knew most of the significant musicians of the last 60 years and the book is filled with great anecdotes about many of them. Sadly you also learn about the painful experiences of racism from the perception of a black entertainer who has been on the road since the days of segregation.

Reading "Blues All Around Me" is like sitting down with the man himself and having the good sense to just sit and listen and keep your mouth shut. Speaking candidly, B.B. King reveals himself to be a very down-to-earth and genuinely likeable man who rose from an incredibly humble beginning to become the most beloved bluesman of all time. No subject is off-limits, and King approaches them all with the same honesty that he puts into his music. Despite his struggle to succeed and survive in a rascist world, his views on racism will surprise you. Also particularly interesting to me were his insights into his musical influences, developing his signature sound, and his comments about younger bluesmen like Stevie Ray Vaughn, whom he considered almost a son. The stories and comments in this book will stay with you long after you have put it down.

By the way, contributor David Ritz has also collaborated on autobiographies of Etta James, Ray Charles, and Aretha Franklin. He had the good sense to sit back and listen to these folks as well. Warts and all, these books reveal the artists from the heart.

i have longed Respected David Ritz. and this book keeps in the tradition.the Life of one of Musics truest Pioneers.the Battles with Race,Class&everyday living are all here.a must read on a Man that is still strong despite many Obstacles.he still finds a way to Achieve.Thank God for Lucile.the world of music would not have been the same without his Genius.

Blues All Around Me surveys the life of blues musician B.B. King, offering insight into his struggle for success and charting his rise in the music world. From his encounters with racism and civil rights issues to his show business experiences, this provides a well-rounded survey of King's life and times for any fan of his blues style music.

Truly a fine book and I am a harsh critic! A giant among working musicians and certainly a spiritual/model for the thousands of us who would give most anything to play as he does. Be clear...the answer is not a few tricks, "just" tens of thousands of hours of work,work,work...Any way many pieces of information that justify the price of the book in and of themselves!Enjoy

If you ever wanted to know almost everything there is to know about B.B. King ( including why they call him BB), then this is the book for you. It starts off in the fields of Mississippi and brings us up to I believe the late 90's. Like most blues players, BB came from nothing and just played for the love of it. He overcame a stuttering problem, many financial issues and other obstacles along the way. He's very candid in the book, almost seeming a little pervy at times, but anyone can appreciate it this book. Interesting stories from a true legend.

This is a very deep book. Everything BB King has he deserves and more...sometimes we complain about the smallest things. After reading this book I really have no complaints in life...

I finished this book feeling somewhat in awe of a very sincere and hard working man. As far as an autobiography is concerned it is extremely light on detail after about 1970. However the stories of his early years growing up on cotton plantations and his first twenty years in the music business are rivetting. His musical interests are more catholic than you might expect and he is almost the only musician I've ever read about who didn't mess up with drugs. As often with these kind of books the musical detail is fascinating and he got me listening to Count Basie and Bukka White to name but two.

There are also some heartbreaking and interesting stories about racism. Mr King has a firm commitment to a turn the other cheek approach and is a good spokesman for it.

I'm a blues musician, but everybody should read this. It's very entertaining, but it also says a lot about the Jim Crow era in the south. This is obviously him telling his own story complete with the imperfections he can an can't see. You have to read between the lines to see what he had to put up with when negotiating with the recording establishment. He did it just like Satchmo, with a big toothy smile for the white people and wink to people of color. I hope the time has come when you don't have to do that anymore. Mr. King, you taught me how to sing through my guitar, not shred like the rockers. Every time I do that bend I think of you.