When Joe Bonamassa realized one year ago that the late-"King of the Blues" B.B. King would be turning 100 in 2025, he expected his phone would soon ring with news of an album or concert to pay tribute to one of the most important musicians of the 20th century.
Joe, of course, is a lifelong devotee to the blues and an acolyte of B.B. King. He first shared a stage with B.B. at just 12 years old, and the two remained friends until B.B.'s death in 2015. When the King estate confirmed to Joe that no one had asked about doing a tribute, Joe happily took the reigns.
The resulting collection, B.B. King's Blues Summit 100, totals 32 songs with over 40 guest artists collaborating with Joe and his band. Speaking with Q104.3 New York's Out of the Box with Jonathan Clarke, Joe says he's forever grateful for the shot B.B. gave him as a kid, and for the friendship over the years.
"I knew him for 25 years," Joe says. "He was great. He was so generous with his advice, his music, his stage, everything about him — what you heard about B.B. King was that."
Joe notes that he never really wanted to be the guy in charge of a tribute record, especially one so comprehensive as Blues Summit 100.
"When you do a record like this — which by the way the way this will be the last time I do that — I'm always on the other side, where I just send the tracks in, 'You guys cool?'" he says. "They always say, we'll take it from there and then I forget about it and enjoy it when it comes out. Well, I'm not having to beg people, 'C'mon, man, I know you're on tour. We have to do this.'"
Watch the full conversation via the player above!
Blues Summit 100 encompasses B.B. King's best known work. It's being released in monthly volumes, starting this past September for B.B.'s birthday and continuing through February 2026. The full album will be available February 6, 2026.
Volumes 1 - 3 are streaming now, and you can preorder the full version of the album here.
Go here for Joe Bonamassa's tour dates and more information.
1 of 2 Photo: Debra Bonamassa
2 of 2 Photo: Eleanor Jane