Page 42 - Blues Festival Guide Magazine 2025 Digital Edition

100 YEARS OF

B.B. KING

CElEBRAtING 100 YEARS OF thE lIFE &

lEGACY OF thE ONE ANd ONlY, B.B. KING
Blues legend B.B. King. Photo by Barry Brecheisen

The B.B. King Museum and Delta Interpretive Center in encountered with honesty, civility and compassion. And the
Indianola, MS, sits squarely in the middle of the Mississippi work ethic he learned in his youth, guided the business-like
Delta, the land that gave birth to the blues. The museum is management practices he applied to his large traveling
filled with inspirational films, interactive exhibits and artifacts entourage. The B.B. King Museum exhibitions and collections
relating to King’s life. King started his life as Riley B. King in show how well these philosophies repaid him, and how much
one of America’s most impoverished places, the Mississippi this man from the Delta has contributed to American culture.
Delta, and later became the “King of Blues” with international Blues Festival Guide got a chance to speak to B.B. King’s
fame and lasting impact. Music lovers around the world travel granddaughter, Krystal Young, who resides in Memphis, TN.
to Indianola and the B.B. King Museum to learn the story of Excited about all the events and celebrations, she says, “I’ll try
his life and career, hear stories from around the Delta and feel to go to the ones near me in Tennessee and Mississippi, but
close to his legacy. now there are events happening in other countries too! This is
This year, September 16 marks the 100 birthday of exciting and a bit overwhelming.”
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B.B. King, and the museum is ground zero for year-long “My mother is the daughter of B.B. King, who had 15
celebrations honoring him with events and tributes at the B.B. children in all. Our family is planning an intimate family
King Museum and beyond. Experience live music, special gathering to celebrate his birthday. When I say intimate, I
exhibits, educational programs and community celebrations mean, not open to the public, but there will still be a lot of us.
that highlight King’s extraordinary journey, groundbreaking My grandpa had 15 kids and 40 grandchildren in all, and
contributions to music and enduring impact on the world. a bunch of great-grandchildren – we can’t keep count – and
His Legacy they are still coming. Our ‘intimate family gathering’ will be
Along the way to becoming an international icon, B.B. huge. The family enjoys seeing how others around the world
had heeded his mother’s advice; he treated the people he are celebrating him.”

40 Blues Festival Guide 2025