B.B. King Movies

The concert release B.B. King: Live finds the titular bluesman performing an electric set before a live audience, accompanied by his trademark guitar "Lucille" and his B.B. King Backup Band. Selections include "The Thrill is Gone," "Key to the Highway," "Just Like a Woman," "Guess Who," and "Don't Answer the Door." ~ Nathan Southern, All Movie Guide

Bear witness to the remarkable power of faith as Russell Simmons' Higher Self series brings home the tales of fourteen African-American achievers to credit their success to a higher power. From Essence editor-in-chief Susan L. Taylor's inspirational success story to legendary blues man B.B. King's story of how his faith instilled him with the courage to share his talent with the world, these firsthand tales of triumph will no doubt be inspirational for Americans from all walks of life. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide

When the biggest names in the blues come out to play, they always know that there's a good time to be had at Antone's. In this release, the history of the legendary Austin, Texas club is explored through detailed interviews with those who kept the music coming throughout the years. Featured performers include Buddy Guy, B.B. King, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Kim Wilson, and a whole host of talented blues musicians. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide

Part of The Blues documentary film series on PBS, Red, White & Blues is directed by British filmmaker Mike Figgis. This installment explores the impact of black American blues music on mostly white audiences in the U.K., who then reintroduced the style to mainstream America during the British invasion of the early '60s. Kids from London, Birmingham, Manchester, and other parts of England were heavily influenced by the "race music" that middle-class white America largely ignored. Figgis himself was involved in the British blues music scene in one of Bryan Ferry's early bands. Tom Jones, Jeff Beck, Van Morrison, and Lulu come together for a live improvised recording session at Abbey Road Studios. Eric Clapton, John Mayall, Mick Fleetwood, and Steve Winwood offer commentary in interview segments. Red, White & Blues was originally broadcast by PBS on October 3, 2003. ~ Andrea LeVasseur, All Movie Guide

Born in the rural American South in 1915, bluesman David "Honeyboy" Edwards went on to live a long and eventful life, unlike his more famous contemporary Robert Johnson. In this 2002 documentary, filmmaker Scott Taradash offers a look at the life and career of Edwards, from his struggles as an African-American in the early 20th century to his experiences as one of the most unsung greats in blues music. Along with Edwards, musicians such as B.B. King and Willie Foster appear. ~ Matthew Tobey, All Movie Guide

The Times, They Are A-Changing follows the development of roots music during the '50s and '60s. During the late '50s, a folk revival swept the United States. Rooted in the work of folklorists and musicians from the '30s and '40s, the revival spread to mainstream America when the Kingston Trio released "Tom Dooley" in 1958. African-American migration from the Mississippi Delta to northern cities like Chicago gave birth to electric blues players like Muddy Waters and Howlin' Wolf, while singers like Mahalia Jackson and Rosetta Tharpe popularized gospel. The Civil Rights movement, and later, antiwar protests, also influenced the era's music. College students and folksingers participated in lunch counter sit-ins and attended the 1963 March on Washington. In 1965, controversy erupted at the Newport Folk Festival when a young Bob Dylan traded his acoustic guitar for an electric one, marking the end of the folk revival. The Times, They Are A-Changing includes film footage of Joan Baez, B.B. King, and the Staple Singers, and interviews with Keith Richards, Peter Yarrow, and James Cotton. ~ Ronnie D. Lankford, Jr., All Movie Guide

This concert documentary, originally shown in the big-definition, giant-screen IMAX process, offers a glimpse of some of pop music's biggest stars working their magic on stage and discussing their craft behind the scenes. The Dave Matthews Band teams up with soul music legend Al Green for a version of Green's classic "Take Me to the River". George Clinton and Parliament Funkadelic roar through a medley of their ground-breaking funk hits "Flashlight" and "One Nation Under a Groove", with hip-hop diva Mary J. Blige sitting in on vocals. Blues legend B.B. King and jam-rock kingpin Trey Anastasio (of the group Phish) bring their guitars together as they join up with the Roots for a unique version of "Rock Me Baby". Rob Thomas of Matchbox Twenty and veteran guitar virtuoso Carlos Santana take their Grammy-award winning number "Smooth" to the stage. Sting and Algerian superstar Cheb Mami sing together on "Desert Moon". Sheryl Crow turns in a stripped-down acoustic performance of "If It Makes You Happy". And Macy Gray, Kid Rock, and Moby also turn in performances of their hits. All Access: Front Row. Backstage. Live! was directed by famed rock photographer Martyn Atkins. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide

Mick Fleetwood had been playing drums with British blues pioneer John Mayall when he and a fellow Mayall sideman, bassist John McVie, decided to form a band of their own in 1967. Fleetwood Mac started out as a blues-rock outfit, with ace guitarist Peter Green, and they even recorded with the legendary Otis Spann at a celebrated recording session in Chicago, as well as backing up a number of touring blues heroes. However, after Green's departure from the group, they gradually began to move in a more pop-oriented direction, and in 1975, after Lindsay Buckingham and Stevie Nicks joined the group, the former blues band became one of the world's biggest pop acts. Marriage, divorce, an aborted solo career, and bankruptcy all lay in wait for Fleetwood before he was able to turn his life around in the 1990s and reunite the band that had made him a star. The Mick Fleetwood Story: Two Sticks and a Drum is a documentary which examines the remarkable highs and stunning lows of Fleetwood's inarguably remarkable life and career. The film includes interviews with many of Fleetwood's colleagues and bandmates, including Stevie Nicks, Christine McVie, John McVie, Lindsay Buckingham, Peter Green, John Mayall, John Lee Hooker, and B.B. King. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide

Dan Aykroyd and John Landis teamed to script this sequel to The Blues Brothers (1980), which they also co-scripted. With Landis once again at the helm as director, Aykroyd re-creates his role of rhythm-and-blues man Elwood Blues, and the film's numerous R&B performances and production numbers include Aretha Franklin singing her classic "Respect". Released from prison after serving 18 years for the havoc depicted in the first film, Elwood learns that while he was serving time, his pal Jake Blues (John Belushi) has died, as did their hi-de-ho music mentor Curtis (Cab Calloway). Times have changed, but the blues beat goes on. Elwood visits Mother Mary Stigmata (Kathleen Freeman), who runs the orphanage where Elwood and Jake were raised, and she puts 10-year-old Buster (J. Evan Bonifant) in Elwood's care. Seeking a loan, Elwood visits Curtis' son, Cabel Chamberlain (Joe Morton), and Buster picks Cabel's pocket. Now, 18 years after the original "mission from God," Elwood attempts to reorganize the Blues Brothers Band, beginning with bartender Mighty Mack McTeer (John Goodman) as a replacement for Jake. With the Russian Mafia in hot pursuit, Elwood, Mack, and Buster head cross-country, locating band members as they travel pell-mell toward a scheduled battle of the bands in Louisiana where the Blues Brothers Band competes with the Lousiana Gator Boys Band (Eric Clapton, B.B. King, Bo Diddley, Dr. John, Travis Tritt, Steve Winwood, Clarence Clemmons, Isaac Hayes). Filmed in Toronto and Chicago, this movie reunited Aykroyd and Goodman, who were seen previously in the 1996 video, The Return of the Blues Brothers, a performance taped January 24, 1995 at the House of Blues in Los Angeles. Elsewhere, the Blues Brothers are kept alive in a half-dozen or so websites, such as the House of Blues, and live stage productions. In England, the stage show A Tribute to the Blues Brothers began in 1991. At the request of Aykroyd and Judy Belushi, the title of that production was changed to The Official Tribute to the Blues Brothers. With various cast members in the roles of Jake and Elwood (Con O'Neill, Warwick Evans, Brad Henshaw, Simon Foster), the show toured Britain throughout the 1990s. The "original Blues Brother" (who coached John Belushi and originated some of the blues raps used by Belushi) is Curtis Salgado (of the Robert Cray Band). One cast member of Blues Brothers 2000, bluesman Junior Wells, the last of the great Chicago harmonica players, died in January 1998, only days before the film was released. ~ Bhob Stewart, All Movie Guide

Monica (Roma Downey) has somehow landed an emcee gig at Club Indigo, once the greatest blues club in St. Louis, but now a seedy dive on the verge of bankruptcy. Despite the admonitions of his money-hungry grandson Zach (Geoffrey Nauffts), club owner Sam Brown (Hal Linden) insists upon keeping the place open unless he is told otherwise by "The Countess", a mysterious singer who'd helped save the club some thirty years earlier. Zach refuses to believe Sam's stories of all the jazz greats he has known, and in fact is convinced that The Countess never existed. It is up to Monica to prove Zach wrong and justify Sam's faith in the Countess before the old man's inevitable rendezvous with Angel of Death Andrew (John Dye). Al Jarreau, B.B.King, Dr. John and Al Hirt appear as themselves in the final scene--and just guess who The Countess turns out to be! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Rabbit Ears productions lovingly embraces the classic story of the underdog in Rabbit Ears: John Henry. By using well-known actors and musicians as narrators, Rabbit Ears makes this age-old tale accessible and relevant. Denzel Washington narrates, but the real star is the music of guitarist B.B. King. John Henry represents a great part of American heritage, the unstoppable pioneer and headstrong everyman. King's score becomes part of the struggle as the story of man against machine unfolds. This program format has been lauded by critics and parents alike for its honest and tender renditions. Rabbit Ears: John Henry is recommended for children ages three to eight. ~ Sarah Ing, All Movie Guide