’70s Rock Icon Announces Legendary Tribute Album
- - ’70s Rock Icon Announces Legendary Tribute Album
Rana AlsoufiFebruary 10, 2026 at 2:23 AM
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In honor of the pioneering American blues singer B.B. King's 100th birthday, a star-studded lineup of rockers have come together to release B.B. King's Blues Summit 100 — a tribute album produced by blues rock artist Joe Bonamassa with 32 new covers of King's greatest hits, which went live today.
Among the featured artists is English rocker and guitarist Eric Clapton, who covers arguably King's most famous song "The Thrill Is Gone" alongside the iconic Chaka Khan. Some of the other big names on the album include Slash, Train, Marcus King, Kenny Wayne Shepherd and many more.
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In an announcement post shared to social media last Friday, Bonamassa — who started his career at the age of 12 opening for King — wrote, "I am so honored to have produced along with Josh Smith a tribute to our friend, mentor and musical hero Mr. B.B. King for his centennial birthday. It is a celebration of his legacy that I sincerely hope he would be proud of."
Clapton's appearance on the tribute album would not mark the first time the rocker has interacted with King or his music. The two artists have a deep history together dating back to the 1960s, when Clapton was beginning his career. Clapton has always cited King as one of his earliest influences, especially King's 1965 album B.B. King Live at the Regal.
"B.B. is like a father figure and uncle," Clapton once said in an interview. "He’s this genius artist to me. I can’t ever see myself as being in the same league with him."
1967, New York, New York City, Eric Clapton, B.B, King, Elvin Bishop.Photo by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images (Photo by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)
The two musicians reportedly met for the first time in 1967 at the New York City spot Cafe Au Go-Go, when King invited Clapton — then of the British supergroup Cream — to jam with him. After crossing paths on several more occasions, the two finally collaborated on their first work together when Clapton featured on King's re-recorded version of "Rock Me Baby" for his 1997 album Deuces Wild.
After more than 30 years since Clapton and King first met, the two musicians finally recorded and released a joint album together in 2000 called Riding with the King, which ended up winning the 2001 Grammy Award for Best Traditional Blues Album.
In a 2000 interview with Where's Eric!Magazine, B.B. King spoke about the collaborative album: "The way Eric plays, it really touches me, so when we’re playing together it’s good chemistry. He’ll look at me some time when we’re playing, we get into something — we don’t say anything, we just get into it — and I’m hitting them hard and he’s hitting them hard. Then he’ll look at me and smile and we really get into it."
Eric Clapton and B.B. King, presenters during 20th Annual Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony.Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/WireImage (Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/WireImage)
Clapton and King formed a deep connection and friendship that lasted up until King's death in 2015. Since then, Clapton has continued to honor King and the legacy he has left behind as a major pioneer of blues music. "There are not many left that play it in the pure way that B.B. did," Clapton said in a video following King's death. "He was a beacon for all of us who loved this kind of music and I thank him from the bottom of my heart."
King would have turned 100 years old in 2025, and the release of B.B. King's Blues Summit 100 ensures that the legendary blues artist continues to impact people even posthumously.
Related: ’80s Rock Icon Announces Exclusive Collaboration With Former Band
This story was originally published by Parade on Feb 10, 2026, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Parade as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
