Joe Bonamassa Assembles Star-Studded Tribute to BB King: Blues Summit 100
Joe Bonamassa has once again proven why he’s a powerhouse in the blues world, this time by curating a massive thirty-two-song tribute album to one of his lifelong heroes, BB King. With BB’s 100th birthday approaching in September, Bonamassa galvanized his clout and connections to bring together some of the world’s most elite blues artists, resulting in a project that’s nothing short of electrifying.
**A Centennial Celebration for the King of Blues**
Motivated to properly celebrate King’s centenary, Bonamassa spent months inviting and recording legends and rising stars alike. The lineup reads like a who’s who of modern blues: Buddy Guy, Derek Trucks, Eric Clapton, Slash, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Bobby Rush, Marcus King, Susan Tedeschi, Gary Clark Jr., Kingfish Ingram, George Benson, Paul Rodgers, Jimmie Vaughan—the list seemingly goes on forever.
To help fans fully savor these rich new renditions, Bonamassa decided to release them gradually, in small volumes. This method allowed listeners to absorb and appreciate each song, rather than risk overwhelming them with the entire collection at once. So far, each installment of **Blues Summit 100** has arrived as a highly anticipated musical event.
*Volume III dropped on Friday, November 14th,* featuring contributions from Buddy Guy, Jimmie Vaughan, Larkin Poe, Eric Gales, Trombone Shorty, and Larry McCray. More volumes are on the way, with the complete album scheduled for release on February 6th, 2026.
**A Producer’s Journey**
Getting so many industry heavyweights into studios across the country was no easy feat, but Bonamassa, alongside co-producer Josh Smith, made it happen. Reflecting on the process, Bonamassa shared his love of producing:
> “I do like producing because I get to exercise my ultimate narcissism. I boss better musicians than myself around. I like bossing people around (laughs). But I really enjoy producing records for other artists.”
This project was especially meaningful to him. As Bonamassa said in a recent press release:
> “When BB was alive and active, he was the blues—he was the sun which all planets rotated around. You only get one shot to do this correctly. And I think we nailed it.”
**Bonamassa’s Ongoing Creative Output**
In addition to Blues Summit 100, Bonamassa continues to tour behind his latest original album, **Breakthrough**. His approach to songwriting, as he explained in 2020, is rooted in strong concepts and meaningful lyrics—a process he finds more organic than simply starting with a riff.
Yet right now, the spotlight remains on BB King and the curation of this tribute. Tracks like Marcus King’s electrifying version of “Don’t Answer The Door,” and Susan Tedeschi & Michael McDonald’s stirring duet on “To Know You Is To Love You,” exemplify the emotional depth these artists bring to BB’s legacy.
**Q&A: Joe Bonamassa on Blues, BB King, and the Art of Tribute**
*What makes the blues so special?*
“The thing that makes it interesting is the fact that everyone has their own interpretation. With blues and roots-based music, everyone has the ability to put their own stamp on it. BB King played different than Albert King, and Freddie King played different than Eric Clapton, but it’s all still part and parcel under the same umbrella. It’s what’s between the notes. It’s never the same twice.”
*What made BB King’s music unique?*
“He was an ambassador. He was always interested in making sure the music carried on to different generations, not just his fans from the fifties or sixties. He always kept at it and never changed.”
*What was the hardest part of producing Blues Summit 100?*
“Well, the first hurdle was, are they willing to participate? Then we had to pick a song, pick a key, and synchronize schedules since everyone’s always on tour. The goal was to get the first batch out by BB’s birthday, and we made it happen—pretty much like doing four albums at once.”
*Why release the album in smaller volumes?*
“The attention span of the consumer has gone down. To release thirty-two tracks all at once would, I think, do a disservice to the project. This way, it keeps it at the forefront of people’s minds, not just something that comes and goes.”
*Did you play on every song?*
“I play sometimes a very small role on every song—it’s Josh Smith and myself on guitars, and essentially my touring band played on most of the record.”
*Were there BB King songs you hadn’t played before?*
“There’s a bunch. We would learn the version we thought was cool, since there are so many takes on classics like ‘Night Life,’ ‘The Thrill Is Gone,’ ‘How Blue Can You Get,’ or ‘Every Day I Have The Blues.’ ‘To Know You Is To Love You’ was one we’d never done—it’s rarely covered, but it felt essential for the project.”
*How often did you switch guitars?*
“We did it in seven different studios over eight months, so I’d sometimes just grab a guitar from my touring rig. We recorded in places like Atlanta, Buffalo, and Sunset Sound—it wasn’t about any particular guitar or my soloing, really.”
*What are you forever chasing with the guitar?*
“You want to chase the sound you have in your head. Sometimes it comes out, sometimes it doesn’t—it depends on the room and the day.”
*What are your plans for the new year and beyond?*
“I have a new solo album in the works, and there are tour dates booked, but I’m going to start stepping back from the usual grind. I want to have a life. I don’t want to sit on a tour bus my whole life. I’d like to get a dog.”
*What do you want your legacy to be?*
“I just hope my legacy is that proof of concept: If you work hard enough and put your mind to something, it absolutely can come true.”
And few artists have worked harder than Joe Bonamassa, both in honoring the legends of the past and inspiring new generations of blues fans today.
*Photographs by Leslie Michele Derrough and Haluk Gurer Birmingham.*
https://glidemagazine.com/319923/joe-bonamassa-talks-32-track-double-album-b-b-kings-blues-summit-100-interview/