20th Century Southern Folklife Digital Archive

An inter-institutional, collaborative resource for southern life and culture

A multimedia oral history of the American South as documented by William R. Ferris

B.B. King


B.B. King (view from behind the band) playing on stage
B.B. King (view from behind the band) playing on stage

Ferris first met blues guitarist B.B. King in the 1970s. While teaching at Yale, Ferris nominated King for an honorary degree in Humane Letters, and King received the degree in 1977. Ferris also photographed some of King’s performances, including his 1980 performance at Parchman Penitentiary in Mississippi.

The film Give My Poor Heart Ease: Mississippi Delta Bluesmen explores Delta blues traditions that have influenced commercial blues music. Included is a clip showing King playing his guitar in his New York City apartment and performing at Yale University.

Audio Clips

Studio RecordingA 1974 recording of B.B. King during a recording session in Mobile, Alabama.
September 5, 1982 Interview by William FerrisLi Europan lingues es membres del sam familie. Lor separat existentie es un myth. Por scientie.

Video Clips

Give My Poor Heart EaseVideo excerpt of B.B. King playing in his apartment in New York City and for a class at Yale University in 1974.
Give My Poor Heart EaseVideo excerpt of B.B. King performing for an Afro-American studies class at Yale in 1974.

Images

B.B. King playing on stage (view from behind the band).
B.B. King in the recording studio circa 1974.

Text/Transcripts

Transcript for "Ease My Aching Legs""I know the pain of having aching legs. [music] I got them achin' legs/ achin' from workin' all day/ I got pain in my legs/ achin' from workin' all day.[end music]
Transcript for "Ease My Aching Legs""I know the pain of having aching legs. [music] I got them achin' legs/ achin' from workin' all day/ I got pain in my legs/ achin' from workin' all day.[end music]