When Joe Bonamassa phrases B.B. King’s Blues Summit 100 an “insanely bold undertaking, rolled out in lower than 9 months,” it’s not hyperbole. The prolific blues-rocker (50 studio, dwell, and video albums), co-producer/guitarist Josh Smith, and a raft of greats – Eric Clapton, “Kingfish” Ingram, Robben Ford, Jimmie Vaughan, Slash, Buddy Man – minimize 32 King songs, paying homage to the one centesimal start anniversary of their hero and pal.

The 48-year-old, who opened for King at age 12, says, “The entire neighborhood got here collectively for him.”

What was your first publicity to B.B.?
Like all good Roman Catholic in upstate New York, when you might have your first communion, they throw you a celebration. I had about $200 in household donations, and my dad and mom let me go to the file retailer. The 2 data I purchased, at eight years outdated, had been Steve Morse’s The Introduction and B.B. King’s Reside At The Regal. As soon as I put that on, I used to be hooked. It was very a lot a life-changing second. Arguably you would say it’s B.B.’s biggest file, entrance to again; additionally, perhaps Blues Is King, with the four-piece band.

First time I met him was Might 24, 1990. I do know that as a result of he signed a blues calendar with the good Ernest Withers shot of him with the ES-5 and the shorts. I knew I used to be going to satisfy him as a result of I used to be opening for him, and he signed and dated it. That actually began a friendship that lasted 25 years.

I attempted to assume again of what number of exhibits I’ve accomplished with B.B. over time. My finest guess is round 120. Early on, he used to borrow our backline, and he cherished this explicit Twin Reverb I had – a 1970 silverface with mismatched Music Man audio system. In all probability the loudest, punchiest Twin I’ve ever heard.

Did you ever ask him for recommendation?
B.B. can be like, “Son, you’ve acquired to observe your cash, you’ve acquired to observe the ladies, and simply preserve doing what you’re doing.” Probably the most fascinating factor B.B. ever taught me was in 2005, his eightieth birthday tour. I’d simply gotten this factor known as an iPod, and he confirmed me take songs off of a pc and drag them onto it. An 80-year-old man displaying a 28-year-old. He was tremendous hip. Simply the way in which he would carry himself. I realized a lot about tour, be knowledgeable. He was a gracious, humble man with this ability set that was devastating.

When did you determine to undertake a tribute album?
In September of 2024, a pal mentioned, “Are you aware B.B. King’s turning 100 years outdated subsequent 12 months?” I requested round, “Who’s doing one thing?” No person was. We couldn’t let his one centesimal birthday go and never acknowledge it. So, in January of final 12 months, Josh and I went to Sundown Sound and minimize 23 of our favourite B.B. King songs. The primary individual we requested was Marcus King, as a result of we’d heard him sing “Don’t Reply The Door.”

Clearly, file sharing is now the norm. Did you initially put down scratch solos and vocals?
Yeah, there’s [unused] variations of me singing and enjoying all of those songs. We recorded the equal of 4 data, and did 5 excursions in between all of it. So we needed to do it by way of e-mail. We had been having hassle pinning down “Thrill Is Gone.” It might be diametrically against actuality if we didn’t do it. You’re within the kill zone. Both you get somebody who’s so younger that they don’t care, otherwise you get two icons. Once we pitched it to Eric and Chaka Khan, and each of them mentioned sure. However Chaka mentioned, “I need to hear what Eric performs so I can sing round it.” Eric mentioned, “I need to hear what she sings so I can mess around that.” So… I might need accomplished my finest Eric Clapton impersonation for Chaka to simply get a gist of what he may do. She did say, “Eric’s enjoying very well.” (laughs) “Yeah, thanks.” We needed to do the place-holder for her to sing to, strip my bits away, then Eric performed to what she sang.

Did you purposely dig into your Gibson assortment?
I’m enjoying rhythm on many of the file. So if I wasn’t soloing, I used to be on a 335 or Strat, and a bunch of the rhythm was an outdated Gretsch 6120. I typically used a tweed Vibrolux I had on the bus.

There are a number of generations – from Larkin Poe to Bobby Rush, who’s 92.
It actually introduced it full-circle. You could have Buddy and Bobby, who knew him when he was a child. It’s humorous, once you speak to guys like D.Ok. Harrell, who actually has gone to the B.B. King college of blues singing and enjoying, he’s like, “Man, I at all times wished to satisfy him.” You notice how fortunate we had been to have rolled with him within the ’90s. – Dan Forte

This text initially appeared in VG’s March 2026 challenge. All copyrights are by the creator and Classic Guitar journal. Unauthorized replication or use is strictly prohibited.