(Special Report)

Written by: Ginny Gaines  

B.B. King was the kind of musician whose guitar could speak without saying a word. Long after he passed away in 2015, his sound still echoes through blues clubs, rock stages, and radio stations around the world. As the year of what would have been his 100th birthday approached, one thing became clear: someone needed to properly honor the man who shaped the blues for generations. That someone turned out to be Joe Bonamassa.

Bonamassa, a world-famous blues guitarist himself, realized that there wasn’t a major centennial tribute planned for B.B. King. To him, that felt wrong. B.B. King wasn’t just another blues player, he WAS the blues player. So Bonamassa picked up the phone, worked with B.B. King’s estate, and set out to create something big, meaningful, and lasting. That project became B.B. King’s Blues Summit 100. The idea was simple but powerful: gather musicians from all walks of music, blues, rock, soul, country, and beyond, and have them come together to play the songs B.B. King made famous. Not as copies, but as heartfelt tributes. Each artist would bring their own voice, their own sound, and their own story, all while honoring the spirit of the King of the Blues.

The result is a massive collection of 32 songs, released slowly over time so listeners can really sit with each one. Instead of dropping everything at once, new tracks have been rolling out month by month, building excitement and keeping B.B. King’s music alive in the present. The full project is set to be released on February 6, 2026, exactly timed to honor his centennial year. Behind the scenes, Bonamassa worked closely with producer Josh Smith to make sure the music stayed true to B.B. King’s soul. Some songs use horns, some use strings, others keep things real and simple, just like B.B. King did throughout his career. The goal wasn’t flash. It was feeling.

And the lineup? It reads like a who’s who of modern blues and beyond. Legends like Buddy Guy and Bobby Rush step in to represent the old guard. Younger stars like Christone “Kingfish” Ingram, Marcus King, and Gary Clark Jr. show how B.B. King’s influence still shapes new generations. Rock and soul icons like Slash, Michael McDonald, George Benson, and Paul Rodgers prove that B.B. King’s reach went far beyond blues clubs. Each artist chose a song that meant something to them, tracks like “The Thrill Is Gone,” “Paying the Cost to Be the Boss,” “Sweet Little Angel,” and “Why I Sing the Blues.” These weren’t random picks. These were songs that had guided careers, inspired guitar solos, and taught musicians how to tell the truth through music.

In many ways, Blues Summit 100 feels less like an album and more like a reunion, a gathering of people who all learned something from the same teacher, even if they never met him personally. Every note is a thank-you. Every lyric is a nod of respect. B.B. King once said that blues was about telling your story honestly. This project does exactly that. It tells the story of a man born in Mississippi who carried his guitar around the world and changed music forever. And it shows that, even 100 years after his birth, his voice still sings, through every bend of a guitar string and every soul that ever learned to play the blues.

Our team here at Soundwave Music Media will keep you posted on any updates that are released. In the mean time, that's a wrap for my special report on B.B King's Blues Summit 100 Tribute...Thank you for reading and in closing, please just know, Soundwave Music Media will be here and I will always do my best to bring you the rock music report! Please consider supporting me and the crew by purchasing a Soundwave shirt or hat and support our sponsors! Rock On! Until next time...🤘

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