Kevin Bludso, a James Beard Award-winning pitmaster, is the founder of the famous Bludso’s BBQ, which began as a small stand in Compton, California, in 2008 and has since expanded to multiple locations, including in Texas and Australia. Raised in Compton by a Black Panther–supporting mother and a police officer father, Kevin spent his summers in Corsicana, Texas, learning the art of barbecue at his grandmother’s BBQ stand. His cookbook, Bludso’s BBQ Cookbook, not only offers 75 mouthwatering recipes but also shares Kevin’s personal journey of family, community, and his love for the city of Compton.