On the 16th September it would have been B.B. King’s 100th birthday and in celebration of that Joe Bonamassa announced the upcoming release of B.B. King’s Blues Summit 100, produced by himself and Josh Smith.
The Grammy-nominated duo’s collaborative tribute album will be released viaKTBA Records, and the project has launches with the release of its first five tracks and a promise of more to come in the months ahead. A total of 32 songs will be released in monthly instalments through to February 2026, culminating in the arrival of the full digital album as well as the double CD and triple LP vinyl on the 6th February 6th 2026.
“Very few people in music define the genre in which they flourish, and B.B. King is one of them,” said Bonamassa. “When B.B. was alive and active, he was the blues – He was the sun which all planets rotated around. Only a few artists are the true north guiding the genre in which they participated, but he was that shining star.”
The album includes jaw-dropping reinterpretations of King’s most iconic songs by an unprecedented collection of blues legends, rock icons, soul powerhouses, and rising stars. The first five tracks released today include collaborations with Michael McDonald, Susan Tedeschi & Derek Trucks, Bobby Rush, George Benson, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, and D.K. Harrell.
A true labour of love for Bonamassa, the idea for the album was born after he realised that no major plans had been announced to celebrate King’s 100th birthday. With the blessing of the King estate, he began making calls, starting with longtime friends and collaborators, and eventually expanding to a wide network of artists whose lives and music had been shaped by King.
Vassal Gradington Benford III, Chairman of the Estate of B.B. King commented: “On behalf of the Estate of B.B. King, the B.B. King Family, Vassal Benford, and Ronald Lebow, we are deeply honoured to collaborate with Joe Bonamassa on this special project kicking off Mr. King’s 100th birthday centennial celebration. Together with Joe Bonamassa, along with other great artists, we celebrate not only Mr. King’s extraordinary music, but also his enduring spirit of love, unity, and the joy he brought to generations. This collection carries his legacy forward—so that new audiences may continue to feel the heart, soul, and humanity of the King of the Blues.
The result is a bespoke project, nine months in the making, with contributions from Buddy Guy, Keb’ Mo’, Slash, Shemekia Copeland, Marcus King, Christone “Kingfish” Ingram, Larkin Poe, Jimmie Vaughan, Warren Haynes, Dion, Aloe Blacc, Kirk Fletcher, and many others. Each artist was matched with material that felt personal – sometimes surprising – and all were given space to interpret King’s catalogue through their own lens.
Bonamassa, who first opened for B.B. King when he was just 12, credits the blues titan with shaping his approach to music and life. “He mentored me,” said Bonamassa. “But I wasn’t the only one. All the people in his orbit have the same story about how kind B.B. was, and how he embraced the younger generation.”
As producer, Bonamassa paid special attention to preserving the quality and emotional authenticity of the work. Tracks like ‘The Thrill Is Gone’ were given the full treatment with real strings, horns, and whatever else was needed to do them justice. “You only get one shot to do this correctly,” he said. “And I think we nailed it.”
The project also highlights King’s extraordinary vocal prowess – a trait often overshadowed by his legendary guitar playing. “He’s known as a guitar player, but if Frank Sinatra says, ‘Hey, this is one of my favourite singers in the world,’ you listen,” said Bonamassa. “He could shake the ground with that chest voice.”
For the artists involved, the project was more than a musical endeavour – it was a chance to reflect on King’s cultural and personal significance. Bobby Rush, who met King in 1948, called him “the man I looked up to all my life” and recalls leading the hearse at his funeral. Kenny Wayne Shepherd shared a story about receiving life advice from King on his 16th birthday. Marcus King remembers leaning against the back wall at a B.B. King show as a child, a moment that stayed with him forever.
Other pairings bring together artists from different genres and generations, including Train’s Pat Monahan with guitarist Chris Buck on “Think It Over,” and Shemekia Copeland, Slash, and Myles Kennedy joining forces for “When Love Comes to Town.” The album was released through Bonamassa’s own KTBA Records as part of his ongoing effort to uphold the rich culture and history of the blues as a true American art form.
The album title is a nod to King’s Grammy-winning 1993 album Blues Summit. For Bonamassa, this project is less a swan song than a mission fulfilled. “B.B.’s only wish was, ‘Do what you can to keep the blues alive,’” he said. “Well, hopefully this album gives a B12 shot to his legacy – And to the legacy of the blues.”
King, who passed away in 2015 at 89 years old, left behind a legacy as a performer, songwriter, and global ambassador. With over 50 albums, 15 Grammy Awards, and performances in nearly every corner of the globe, he introduced the blues to millions and inspired generations. As Buddy Guy once said, “Every electric guitarist you listen to, there’s a little bit of B.B. in there.”
The first five tracks from B.B. King’s Blues Summit 100 are available on all digital platforms now, with six additional songs to be released monthly through February 9th, 2026 – the date the full album arrives in both digital and physical formats. For more information go here. Disc 1 of B.B. King’s Blues Summit 100 will feature ‘Paying The Cost To Be The Boss’ spotlighting Christone ‘Kingfish’ Ingram, ‘Don’t Answer The Door’ with Marcus King, ‘To Know You Is To Love You’ with Michael McDonald, Susan Tedeschi & Derek Trucks, ‘Let The Good Times Roll’ featuring Kenny Wayne Shepherd & Noah Hunt, ‘Sweet Little Angel with Buddy Guy, ‘When It All Comes Down (I’ll Still Be Around)’ with Larry McCray, ‘When Love Comes To Town’ features Slash, Shemekia Copeland & Myles Kennedy, special guests for ‘The Thrill Is Gone’ have yet to be announced, ‘Watch Yourself’ features Jimmie Vaughan, ‘Why I Sing The Blues’ features Bobby Rush, ‘Sweet Sixteen’ features Jimmy Hall & Larry Carlton, ‘Don’t You Want A Man Like Me’ features Larkin Poe, ‘I’ll Survive’ features Keb’ Mo’, ‘Heartbreaker’ features Trombone Shorty & Eric Gales, ‘There Must Be A Better World Somewhere’ features George Benson, and ‘Chains And Things’ features Gary Clark Jr.
Disc 2 contains ‘How Blue Can You Get’ featuring Warren Haynes, ‘You Upset Me Baby featuring Chris Cain, ‘Ghetto Woman’ featuring Ivan Neville, ‘Night Life’ featuring Paul Rodgers, ‘Ain’t Nobody Home’ featuring Jade MacRae & Robben Ford, ‘Bad Case Of Love’ featuring Joanne Shaw Taylor, ‘Never Make A Move Too Soon’ featuring Dion, ‘Three O’Clock Blues’ featuring Marc Broussard, ‘Think It Over’ featuring Train & Chris Buck, ‘It’s My Own Fault’ featuring Kim Wilson, ‘Every Day I Have The Blues’ featuring D.K. Harrell, ‘Please Accept My Love’ featuring John Nemeth, ‘So Excited’ featuring Aloe Blacc, ‘When My Heart Beats Like A Hammer’ featuring Dannielle De Andrea, ‘Playin’ With My Friends, and ‘Better Not Look Down’ featuring Kirk Fletcher.
You can order B.B. King’s Blues Summit 100 here.|
