Growing up in Mississippi during the 1940s, Morgan Freeman developed a deep connection to blues music, rooted in his childhood experiences. The actor’s earliest memories involve evenings spent with his mother, a piano player, surrounded by guitar players, moonshine, and melodies he would later recognize as blues, even though he didn’t understand the genre at the time.
I didn’t call it the blues,
Freeman recalled.
I didn’t know just what they were doing. But it goes that far back for me.
This early exposure sparked an enduring passion, which only deepened over time as he grew to appreciate the blues’ rich history and cultural significance.
Freeman’s Ongoing Commitment to Blues Music
Today, Freeman is recognized as an authority on blues music, even if he humbly downplays his expertise. His involvement includes lending his name to Morgan Freeman’s Symphonic Blues Experience, a live show blending Mississippi Delta blues with orchestral music and narration delivered by Freeman himself. Additionally, he co-owns the Ground Zero Blues Club in Clarksdale, Mississippi, a city famed for its significance in the development of the blues.
Freeman’s dedication clearly reflects his profound attachment to the genre, which he holds dear above many other music styles. His engagement with the blues scene, through both performance and business, illustrates how deeply intertwined his life remains with the music of his youth.
Honoring BB King as the Ultimate Blues Legend
Among the many groundbreaking and legendary musicians who shaped the blues from the late 19th century onwards, Freeman singularly regards BB King as the definitive figure in the genre. He emphasizes King’s unmatched impact, recognizing him as an essential pillar of blues history.
BB King, often called the ‘King of the Blues,’ earned that title through his extraordinary contributions beyond just his famous surname. When King passed away in 2015, Morgan Freeman promptly paid tribute to the icon’s enduring legacy.
Needless to say, BB was the greatest blues icon on the planet,
Freeman told Time.
He kept us rocking and rolling throughout a 70-year career.
Freeman went further to express the profound void left by King’s death, stating that
his passing has created a hole in the universe.
Morgan Freeman’s Role in Preserving BB King’s Story
Before BB King’s death, his life and career were the subjects of a feature-length documentary titled BB King: The Life of Riley. Morgan Freeman lent his distinctive voice as the film’s narrator, providing narration that perfectly complemented King’s story with the gravitas for which Freeman is known.
This collaboration underscores Freeman’s deep respect for BB King and his desire to keep the blues legend’s memory alive for future generations, highlighting how Freeman’s blues connection extends beyond appreciation to active preservation.
