‘B.B. King: The Life Of Riley’ ‘American Masters’ Profile To Air On PBS

By Andy Kahn Feb 12, 2016 10:43 am PST

The life of iconic blues musician B.B. King was examined as part of the PBS American Masters series. Tonight, B.B. King: The Life of Riley premieres on public television nationwide.

Narrated by Academy Award winning actor Morgan Freeman, the feature chronicles Riley B. King’s journey from his birth in 1925 on a plantation in Itta Bena, Mississippi, through his transformation to B.B. King and becoming one of the most revered blues performers of all time, earning the title of “King of the Blues.” The film includes interviews with musicians such as Eric Clapton, Carlos Santana, Ringo Starr, Bonnie Raitt, Aaron Neville, John Mayer, Johnny Winter, George Benson, Bono and others.

Produced with input from The B.B. King Museum and Delta Interpretive Center in Indianola, Mississippi, filming concluded shortly before King’s death at age 89 on May 14, 2015. B.B. King: The Life of Riley premieres on PBS tonight, Friday, February 12 at 9 p.m. ET. Watch a trailer for the American Masters special below:

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