This is the acclaimed biography of a towering but often overlooked figure in blues history, Big Bill Broonzy. Meticulously researched and engagingly written, Bob Riesman’s book illuminates the significant contributions Broonzy made during his 30-year career as a singer, guitarist, songwriter and creative artist willing to speak out against racial injustice in his songs, interviews and writings. I Feel So Good traces Broonzy’s ascent as one of the most prolific and popular blues stars of the 1930s and ‘40s, followed by his trailblazing tours of Europe in the 1950s, which played a crucial role in creating an international audience for the blues. By documenting Broonzy’s remarkably influential life, Riesman brings to the forefront the musician described by Eric Clapton as “a role model for me,” and the man summed up succinctly by Muddy Waters: “Mostly I try to be like him.”
