Daniel De Vise Books

"King of the Blues presents the vibrant life and times of a trailblazing musical giant. Riley 'Blues Boy' King (1925-2015) was born into deep poverty in Jim Crow Mississippi and music became his emancipation from exhausting toil in the fields as a sharecroppyer. Inspired by the records of Blind Lemon Jefferson and T-Bone Walker, B.B. taught his guitar to sing in the unique solo style that, along with his relentless work ethic and humanity, became his trademark. Over the course of his career, B.B. performed incessantly -- more than fifteen thousand concerts in ninety countries over sixty years -- and several of his concerts, including his landmark gig at Chicago's Cook County Jail, endure in legend to this day. Daniel de Visé interviewed almost every surviving member of B.B. King's inner circle and their voices and memories enrich the life of this Mississippi blues titan whom generations of artists claimed as inspiration, from Jimi Hendrix and Eric Clapton to Carlos Santana and the Edge." -- From back cover

The first authoritative cradle-to-grave biography of a worldwide musical and cultural legend.

The story of the epic friendship between John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd, the golden era of improv, and the making of a comedic film classic that helped shape our popular culture

The Blues Brothers hit theatres on June 20, 1980, with a mission to save a local Chicago orphanage, but Dan Aykroyd aimed to honor the rhythm and blues tradition, featuring legends like Aretha Franklin and Ray Charles. Despite delays, budget issues, and challenging on-set dynamics, the film initially faced harsh reviews. Over the past 44 years, it has been recognized as a classic, inducted into the National Film Registry for its cultural significance and even deemed a 'Catholic classic' by the Church, enjoying countless re-airings to global audiences. The saga behind the film is rich and colorful, tracing the childhoods of John Belushi and Aykroyd, the comedic revolution ignited by Harvard's Lampoon and Chicago's Second City, and the chaotic early years of Saturday Night Live, where the Blues Brothers act emerged. Daniel de Vise's exploration draws from original research and numerous interviews with key figures, including director John Landis and producer Bob Weiss, revealing the behind-the-scenes story of how this iconic film was crafted, scene by unforgettable scene. This work not only highlights an American masterpiece but also celebrates the creative minds that shaped modern comedy.

Die Geschichte der Musik und eines Kultfilms Der Pulitzer-Preisträger Daniel de Visé rekonstruiert in seinem brillant recherchierten und mitreißend erzählten neuen Meisterwerk den Werdegang der Blues Brothers von einer Schnapsidee bis hin zum globalen Phänomen. In den 1970ern spielen der übergenaue Dan Aykroyd und der chaotische John Belushi gemeinsam Theater und treten bei Saturday Night Live auf, wo für einen Sketch die Blues Brothers geboren werden. Aus der Eintagsfliege wird ein Filmklassiker, ein Musical und ein Ballett aus tanzenden Autos, kurz: ein Welterfolg, der auch Größen wie Aretha Franklin, John Lee Hooker, Cab Calloway, Ray Charles und James Brown zu neuem Ruhm verhilft. »Dieses Buch ist der absolute Knaller, voller unglaublicher Recherche und faszinierender Details.« Literary Review »Daniel de Visé hat es offenbar geschafft, den Humor, die Menschlichkeit, die Liebe und die Tragödie zu vermitteln, die die Geschichte der Blues Brothers zu einer so hinreißenden Geschichte machen.« Judy Belushi Pisano, Witwe von John Belushi