In his autobiography, Louisiana-born blues artist Bobby Rush tells a story of decades-long perseverance. Born in 1936 in northwest Louisiana, Rush spent most of his career touring the African American entertainment network known as the Chitlin’ Circuit. A vibrant showman, singer, harmonica player and guitarist, he rose to Chitlin’ Circuit stardom. He sent some hits into the rhythm and blues charts, too, while remaining unknown to mainstream America.

I Ain’t Studdin’ Ya: My American Blues Story contains 280 pages of lively, first-person accounts of Rush’s hard-knock life. Co-written with Herb Powell, the book’s history of the musician’s childhood and youth in north Louisiana and Arkansas, especially, unfolds in engaging detail. His rich memories include the thrill he experienced in discovering and performing music and harsh realities of being Black and mixed-race in the Deep South during the 1940s and ’50s.

Like many Black Southerners, Rush joined the great migration to the North, West and Midwest. Moving to Chicago in 1953, he based himself in the blues music mecca until his 1983 move to Jackson, Mississippi. Rush writes intimately about the peers he met in Chicago and elsewhere, including B.B. King, Bo Diddley, Rudy Ray Moore, Ike Turner and James Brown and his fellow Louisiana natives Little Walter Jacobs, Buddy Guy and Dr. John.

Although Rush’s experiences with other entertainers weren’t always positive, he treasures the best of those relationships. “Those pure moments that we shared, of mutual respect, admiration and love,” Rush writes, “that recognition was more than enough to keep me going for almost 70 years.”

Broader recognition finally came to Rush after nearly 50 years of performing. In 2000, his album Hoochie Man earned his first Grammy nomination. In 2003, the Martin Scorsese-produced PBS documentary The Road to Memphis brought more attention. He appeared in another documentary, Take Me to River, and made his late-night national TV debut on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.

In 2018, following six Grammy nominations, Rush won his first Grammy for Porcupine Meat. He recorded the project with New Orleans-based producer Scott Billington and mostly local musicians. Rush won his second Grammy this year for Rawer Than Raw.

Like his now award-winning recordings, Rush’s compelling memoir wins its audience. He is a remarkable spirit and an artist deserving of his long-time-coming acclaim.