S H I R L E Y
K I N G
K I N G
REVERED SINGER
DAUGHTER OF LEGENDARY BLUES ICON
B. B. K I N G
NEW RELEASE:BLUES FOR A KING
WITH ALL-STAR CAST OF MUSICIANS
Steve Cropper, Elvin Bishop, Harvey Mandel, Robben
Ford, Junior Wells, Martin Barre, Duke Robillard, Joe Louis Walker, Arthur
Adams, Kirk Fletcher and Pat Travers, all of who wanted to pay their musical
respects to this talented daughter
of blues royalty.
of blues royalty.
Born and raised in West Memphis, Arkansas, Shirley
began singing in the church choir at age nine. When she was thirteen, she met
another music legend – Etta James.
Young Shirley was so impressed by Etta’s performance
that she made Etta her musical role model. Ruth Brown and the late Mahalia
Jackson also greatly influenced the fledgling singer.
Shirley says, “I grew up around the stage watching my dad become famous, but I never imagined I’d become a blues singer too.”
Ms. King came late to the blues, first trying it on in
1990. Within six months, she was a regular performer at famed Chicago blues
club Kingston Mines. Two years later she released her first CD, “Jump Through
My Keyhole.”
In 1999, Shirley released her highly acclaimed blues
album, “Daughter of the Blues,” which featured her soulful, bluesy versions of
classics like Wang Dang Doodle, Sweet Home Chicago, Every Day I Have the Blues
and, fittingly, The Thrill is Gone.
Once her father caught her act he lent his full support to Shirley’s efforts at
carving out her own career. She admits that having a legendary father
helped open some doors for her, but it was her talent, charisma and high-energy
stage presence, along with her big, beautiful singing voice, that put her on
the musical map.
From traditional blues to gospel to funky R&B to
smooth soul, Shirley defies genre and her singing and stage antics never fails
to excite her growing number of fans worldwide.
Shirley also believes in giving back. She has also
worked with kids as an artist-in-residence with the highly acclaimed Urban
Gateways Arts in the Schools Program at Chicago Public Schools and continues to
expose school children to the history blues has played in American
culture.
Shirley also published her memoirs in 2017
entitled Love is King, which is dedicated to her father and goes into
detail about her life with her dad, to whom she was very close.
Blues Hall of Fame guitarist Joe Louis Walker, who
guests on two tracks on the new album, said, “I’ve had the honor of performing
on two B.B. King albums. Now I have the distinct honor and pleasure of
playing on his daughter’s album, Shirley King, who is also my dear
friend. Keep the thrill goin’ on Shirley….”
With her powerful voice and outgoing personality,
Shirley always rocks the house whether it’s on an international stage, a
festival or a nightclub.
She’s ready to bust out bigger than ever on her own in
a way that would make her daddy proud. Make sure to come along for the
ride.
SHIRLEY
KING
Blues For A King
featuring
available at amazon.com
Paperback – April 29, 2017
at amazon.com
For more information about
SHIRLEY KING
APPEARS
AUGUST 4TH 2020
7 PM PACIFIC/10 PM EASTERN
on INTERVIEWING THE LEGENDS
with RAY SHASHO
BBS RADIO ONE
www.bbsradio.com
…Order yours today on
Hardcover or E-book at bookbaby.com
purchase
SHIRLEY
KING
Blues For A King
featuring
Steve Cropper, Elvin Bishop, Harvey Mandel, Robben
Ford, Junior Wells, Martin Barre, Duke Robillard, Joe Louis Walker, Arthur
Adams, Kirk Fletcher and Pat Travers
available at amazon.com
You can also
purchase
Shirley
King’s Memoir
LOVE IS KING
B. B.
King’s Daughter Fights to Preserve Her Father’s Legacy
Paperback – April 29, 2017
at amazon.com
For more information about
Shirley King
visit
Shirley King Facebook
page:
B.B. King official
website:
APPEARS
AUGUST 4TH 2020
7 PM PACIFIC/10 PM EASTERN
on INTERVIEWING THE LEGENDS
with RAY SHASHO
BBS RADIO ONE
MY NEW BOOK IS FINALLY OUT!
ENTITLED
THE
ROCK STAR CHRONICLES
SERIES ONE
CHRONICLES, TRUTHS,
CONFESSIONS AND WISDOM FROM THE MUSIC LEGENDS THAT
SET US FREE
…Order yours today on
Hardcover or E-book at bookbaby.com
Featuring over 45
intimate conversations with some of
the greatest rock
legends the world will ever know.
CHRIS SQUIRE... DR.
JOHN... GREG LAKE... HENRY MCCULLOUGH... JACK BRUCE … JOE LALA… JOHNNY WINTER... KEITH EMERSON... PAUL
KANTNER... RAY THOMAS... RONNIE
MONTROSE... TONY JOE WHITE... DAVID CLAYTON-THOMAS… MIKE LOVE... TOMMY ROE...
BARRY HAY... CHRIS THOMPSON... JESSE COLIN YOUNG... JOHN KAY... JULIAN
LENNON... MARK LINDSAY... MICKY DOLENZ… PETER RIVERA ...TOMMY JAMES… TODD
RUNDGREN... DAVE MASON... EDGAR WINTER... FRANK MARINO... GREGG ROLIE... IAN
ANDERSON... JIM “DANDY” MANGRUM... JON ANDERSON... LOU GRAMM... MICK BOX...
RANDY BACHMAN… ROBIN TROWER... ROGER
FISHER... STEVE HACKETT... ANNIE HASLAM… ‘MELANIE’ SAFKA... PETULA CLARK...
SUZI QUATRO... COLIN BLUNSTONE… DAVE DAVIES... JIM McCARTY...
PETE BEST
THE ROCK STAR
CHRONICLES
CHRONICLES
BOOK TRAILER
BOOK REVIEW
-By Literary Titan (5) STARS
The Rock Star Chronicles, by Ray
Shasho, is a splendid book written by a music enthusiast who has poured their
heart and soul into it. It’s a story of a boy who loved rock music, and his
obsessive passion of it earned himself the name Rock Raymond. He went to school
but instead was schooled in all matters of music while his peers were buried
chin-deep in coursework. He then became a radio DJ and has now compiled a book
on all interviews he held with Rock gods who raided the airwaves back in the
70s and 80s. It’s a compilation of interviews with outstanding vocalists,
legendary guitarists and crazy drummers in the rock music scene. Each interview
gives a reader an in-depth view into their personal lives and the philosophies
that guide their lives which all serve to humanize these great icons. For
readers who are old enough to call themselves baby boomers this book will bring
old memories back to life. Millennials, on the other hand, may think of this
book as a literal work of the Carpool Karaoke show.
The Rock Star Chronicles is a book I
didn’t know I was waiting for. To come across a book that will talk me into
trying something new. One brave enough to incite me to venture into new
frontiers. This book made me a believer- I am now a bona fide Rock and Roll music
fan.
Ray Shasho masterfully gets the
interviewees talking. He smartly coaxes answers from them with crafty questions
designed to get a story rolling out of them. The artists talk about diverse
issues ranging from music, politics, and their social engagements. Having been
on the music seen all his life, Ray Shasho knows the buttons to press, how to
get them comfortable about talking about their lives.
The book’s cover is befitting of its
subject matter with the leather look offering a royal background to the golden
letter print. It speaks to how high a level rock music holds in the pecking
order- arguably, modern music as we know it has originated from blues and rock
music. The second noteworthy thing is the use of high definition pictures
to reference the musician being interviewed in every sub-chapter. This ensures
that the book is for both original rock and roll lovers and aspiring new ones.
Together is makes for a refreshing and consistently enjoyable read.
I recommend this book to rock music enthusiasts,
aspiring musicians wondering what it takes and all readers curious to learn new
things by going back in time.
Author Interview - Ray Shasho
By Literary Titan
The Rock Star Chronicles uses your interviews with
rock legends to humanize them and preserve their contribution to the genre. Why
was this an important book for you to write?
I was fortunate to have lived through two of the
greatest decades for music. It was a time when radio played incredible music
and rock concerts were a bargain and a happening thing to do. Rock groups
featured incredibly talented musicians with guitarists and lead singers in the
spotlight. There has never been a generation to match that period of music
expertise and staying power. I wanted the reader to understand and realize how
great a talent they really were and still are. Especially to wannabe musicians
and the young. Many of the artists I have interviewed have passed on and others
nearing retirement. It was important to me to tell their stories at a
vulnerable period in their lives and be recognized as the greatest music
legends the world will ever know.
What is one interview in this book that stands out
as the most exciting one you had?
Ian Anderson of Jethro Tull has always been a rock
hero to me. He has written and performed complex music and always had an
incredible stage presence. Going to a Tull concert back in the day was a huge
event. I will admit the first time I interviewed Ian Anderson I was quite
nervous. I remember when the phone rang for the interview, I thought, that’s
Jethro Tull calling me! During the second interview I got him to chat about
politics, religion, ancestry, and world events. I tried not to ask the same
mundane music questions that have been asked of him many hundreds of times. He
was intellectual and I was on my best game that day.
What do you think is one thing modern musicians
have to learn from the icons of the rock and roll genre?
Bands must perform live. All the legends started
performing at school dances, bars, clubs, and anywhere they could be seen by an
audience big or small. If they are talented eventually someone will give them a
break, but it will not be easy. Having a You Tube video with a lot of page views
is a start, but it will never have the impact of playing in front of live
audiences.
What do you find is a common misconception people
have about music?
People that pay big money to watch an artist lip
sync on stage and still call it a great show. Music lovers who go see a
legendary rock band and there are no original members in the band. Ringo Starr
would never bill himself as The Beatles, instead he created an All-Starr band.
All generations need to do a little homework before purchasing expensive tickets
to concerts nowadays. My book will certainly help identify who the real legends
are.
Music is a universal language that we all share
and cherish.
