Most of this episode is dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the birth of BB King.
In the words of BB King biographer Charles Sawyer: "In the distant future, many generations hence, when the history of the 20th century will reside only in books and other artifacts, people will hear blues music and recognize it as a distinct art-form, different from jazz, different from rock and roll, different from soul music. And in those distant times, blues music will be performed and loved just as 18th and 19th century classical music is performed and loved today. And it is B.B. King who has won for blues this place in our culture. He, more than anyone, is responsible for securing a permanent place for Blues in our very cultural imprint. His unique story gave the listening public a persona to identify with the music. His story became the story of the blues. B.B. King has earned a place alongside Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, Charlie Parker and Miles Davis in the pantheon of artists who made the 20th Century’s new style of improvisational music America's unique contribution to world culture."
