The Grammy-nominated duo JOE BONAMASSA and JOSH SMITH have developed an incredible collaborative album-project that honours one of music’s most iconic figures, paying tribute to King and his legacy, titled ‘B.B. King’s Blues Summit 100’.
The globally recognised blues-rock standard-bearer JOE BONAMASSA made the announcement on what would have been B.B. King’s 100th birthday, September 16th 2025.
King, who passed away in 2015 at 89 years, 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.”
Do what you can
B B King
to keep the blues alive…
The album title is a nod to King’s Grammy-winning 1993 album Blues Summit. For Bonamassa, this project is more of a mission accomplished than a final deferential gesture: “B.B. ‘s only wish was, ‘Do what you can to keep the blues alive,’” he says. “Well, hopefully this album gives a B12 shot to his legacy—and to the legacy of the blues.”
At the age of 12, Bonamassa played an opener for King, and traces his outlook on life and his lifetime spent in music back to that moment with the iconic blues legend. “He mentored me,” says 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.”
“Very few people in music define the genre in which they flourish, and B.B. King is one of them,” continued 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.”
Buddy Guy, Keb’ Mo’, Slash, Shemekia Copeland, Marcus King, Christone “Kingfish” Ingram, Larkin Poe, Jimmie Vaughan, Warren Haynes, Dion, Aloe Blacc, Kirk Fletcher, and numerous others contributed to the final product of this adoratory custom project, which took nine months to complete. Each artist was offered content that seemed unique to them, often in unexpected ways, and were all allowed to interpret King’s repertoire whatever way they saw fit.
The first five tracks from B.B. King’s Blues Summit 100 are available on all digital platforms here https://ffm.to/rab3vpx with six additional songs to be released monthly through February 9th, 2026—the date the full album arrives in both digital and physical formats.
Main photo: © Pictorial Press Ltd – Alamy
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