Cultural Manifesto

Hear the second edition of a new segment titled “40 Indiana guitar pioneers that every Hoosier should know.” Over the next year, we’ll be sharing the music and history of Indiana guitarists who made notable contributions to music. Some of these musicians are world-famous; some you may not have heard of. This is not a ranked list, and it won’t be presented in any particular order. On this edition, learn about the Gary, Indiana guitarist Donald Kinsey, who played with artists including Bob Marley, Albert King and Peter Tosh. Donald Kinsey was born May 12, 1953, in Gary. He was one of three sons of Lester “Big Daddy” Kinsey, a respected Chicago blues guitarist, singer, and harmonica player who migrated from Mississippi to Gary in the mid-20th century. Music was part of Donald’s life from an early age. He began playing guitar at five years old, learning chords from his father and performing in church and at local gigs. By his early teens, he had earned the nickname “B.B. King Jr.” In 1972, Donald’s professi