B.B. King in a 1971 performance. King is the subject of a new documentary, The Life of Riley.

A New Documentary Honors The Life And Music Of B.B. King

Soundcheck | Jun 5, 2014

B.B. King changed the sound of blues and rock music, but still, no one sounds quite like him. All you have to hear is one note from the iconic blues guitarist, and there's no question it's him playing his signature Lucille. Now, a new documentary traces that musical legacy from King's humble beginnings in Mississippi, to his current place in the rock 'n' roll canon. The Life of Riley includes interviews with a host of admiring fans, from Eric Clapton and Bono to Bonnie Raitt, Keith Richards and Carlos Santana.

In a conversation with Soundcheck host John Schaefer, the film's director Jon Brewer talks about about King's distinctive sound and how the Rock and Roll Hall of Famer changed popular music for a whole new generation of musicians and fans.

Watch the trailer for The Life of Riley:

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