Reflections on the Blues & the Mississippi Blues Icon B.B. King

This presentation juxtaposes the life of B.B. King, his mission of spreading word about blues music around the world, and early reflections on Blues and its connection to spirituals and gospel music. The discussion will reflect on the past, present, and the continued preservation of the music. The intent is to understand the journey of B.B. King, born in poverty just before the Great Mississippi Flood and Great Depression–on through the Jim Crown and Civil Rights eras, to a time when black musicians were becoming more recognized for the music, due in part to King.

Speakers Expertise:

Diane Williams is a neo-griot, along the lines of the story­tellers from times gone by when oral historians were crucial to maintaining black folks' history because book publishers didn't believe the history worth chronicling. Williams is also a quilter, an artistry befitting for a woman known for paying homage to the past. Williams uses silk yarns, beads, stones and vibrant colors to make traditional quilts with Motherland inspiration to tell stories of strength, resilience and hope.