BB King: The Life Of Riley

One of the Most Influential and Inspirational Stories in the History of Music Narrated By Morgan Freeman Theatrical Release – 15th October 2012 DVD Release – late 2012

Universal Music To Release Original Soundtrack And Also BB King Boxset

EMPEROR MEDIA is pleased to announce the release of the much-lauded film on the extraordinary life of Blues legend BB KING – opening in Cinemas across the UK on the 15th October 2012.

This powerful, insightful and heart-warming film about legendary Blues man BB King is being directed and produced by Jon Brewer. Brewer has been working closely with this gregarious and charming musician for the past 2 years, and has been given extraordinary access to his friends, family and colleagues. This is a no holds barred, powerful documentary feature that explores how a black cotton picker from Mississippi turned his life around, battled against all the odds and unrelenting racism to overcome even the toughest critics in the entertainment industry and become ‘KING OF THE BLUES’, performing over 15,000 gigs and selling in excess of 40 million records worldwide to date. One particularly poignant scene shows BB King jamming at the Whitehouse with Barack Obama – this is much more than a music documentary. It is this essence of BB’s story; highlighted by rare archive photos and footage, along with personal interviews, that make this a beautiful, informative and visually captivating feature documentary, all bound together by BB’s trademark sound.

At 87 years old BB King continues to tour extensively, last playing the UK at The Royal Albert Hall in 2011, joined onstage by Slash, Ronnie Wood, Mick Hucknall, Susan Tedeshi and Derek Trucks in a concert for DVD also directed by Brewer.

The film is narrated by Morgan Freeman and featuring contributions from, amongst others Eric Clapton, Bono, Ringo Starr, Carlos Santana, Bill Wyman, Slash, Bonnie Raitt, Peter Green, Buddy Guy, Ronnie Wood, Bruce Willis and many more…

To tie in to the film release Universal Music will be releasing an Original Soundtrack, “BB King: The Life Of Riley” OST, with songs from the film, on the 22nd October 2012. This will be preceded on the 24th September 2012 with a lavish 10 CD, 194 track box set collection chronicling his entire career from his first recordings in 1949 through to his most recent studio album. Entitled “Ladies And Gentlemen…Mr. BB King”, the box set celebrates his 50th Anniversary signing to ABC-Paramount Records in 1962 through a multi-format career retrospective. The boxset is available on umusic.ly/BBKing10phys.

Prior to a DVD release later in 2012, “BB King: Life Of Riley” will be showing across the UK on the 15th October 2012. Cinemas confirmed so far are below. Tickets go onsale 5pm GMT Friday 14th September 2012.

Odeon Cinema List:  BB King The Life of Riley – 15th October 2012

Basingstoke                                             Belfast

Birmingham                                            Braehead Glasgow

Brighton                                                    Cardiff

Chelmsford                                              Derby

Edinburgh Lothian Road                 Greenwich

Hull                                                              Kingston

Leeds Bradford                                     Lincoln

Liverpool One                                       Manchester Printworks

Milton Keynes                                       Newcastle Silverlinks

Norwich                                                    Oxford George St.

Panton St                                                  Preston                                                     

Sheffield                                                    Southampton                

Streatham                                                Surrey Quays                                         

Taunton                                                     Whiteleys                                                

Wimbledon                                             Worcester                       

Ireland:                                                      Coolock     

Stillorgan                                                  The Point Village

Tickets will be priced £10 and booking information is available on http://www.odeon.co.uk/fanatic/odeon-plus/music/

Showcase Cinema List: BB King The Life Of Riley – 15th October 2012

Bluewater                                                                        CDL Bristol

CDL Derby                                                                        CDL Leicester

Tickets will be priced £10 and booking information is available on www.showcasecinemas.co.uk

‘BB King: The Life of Riley’ – Contributors

Aaron Neville                                                                 Allan Hammons

Annie Clay                                                                        B.B. King

Bernard Purdie                                                            Bill Cosby

Bill Szymczyk                                                                 Bill Wyman

Billy Boy Arnold                                                          Bobby Bland

Bono                                                                                   Bonnie Raitt

Bruce Willis                                                                   Buddy Guy

Calvin Owens                                                                Carlos Santana

Carver Randle                                                              Cato Walker

Charles Evers                                                                Charles Sawyer

Clemmie Truevellian                                              Derek Trucks

Delcia Davis                                                                   Doyle Bramhall

Dr. John                                                                           Eric Clapton

Ernest Withers                                                            Ford Nelson

George Benson                                                           James Toney                                                                

Jessie May Golden                                                    Joe Bihari                                                                       

Joe Bonamassa                                                            Joe Walsh

John Cadillac Holden                                              John Fair

John Mayer                                                                    John Mayall

Johnny Winter                                                            Jonny Lang

Kenny Wayne Shepherd                                       Lessie May Fair

LaVerne Toney                                                            Leon Russell

Mick Hucknall                                                              Mick Taylor

Morgan Freeman                                                       Paul Rodgers

Peter Green                                                                  Polly Walker

Rev. David Matthews                                              Ringo Starr

Robert Cray                                                                   Robert Lockwood

Ronnie Wood                                                               Sara Betty Lou Henson

Slash                                                                                   Stewart Levine

Sue King Evans                                                            Susan Tedeschi

Tina France                                                                    Walter Trout

Wayne Cartledge

“The invaluable and definitive autobiography on film of the last great bluesman, BB King. And much more: this movie is BB’s valedictory testimony, and a monument to the essence of the blues and whence he and they came – in Mississippi delta cotton country – and their impact on us all” – The Observer

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