B.B. King readies duets album, tackles more touring

B.B. King , who next month celebrates his 80th birthday, will mark the occasion with the release of a new duets album that pairs the legendary bluesman with Eric Clapton, Elton John, Sheryl Crow, John Mayer and others.

Titled "B.B. King & Friends: 80," the set is due in stores Sept. 13, and also features Van Morrison, Gloria Estefan, Roger Daltrey, Glenn Frey, Mark Knopfler, Billy Gibbons, Bobby Bland and Daryl Hall. The set is King's first new studio set since 2003's "Reflections."

For "B.B. King & Friends: 80," King and company recorded "a dozen of the most significant standards of the blues," according to a press release. Cuts include King and Clapton delivering a new take on King's 1970 Grammy-winner, "The Thrill is Gone"; King and Daltrey on "Never Make Your Move Too Soon"; and King and Mayer on the Leon Russell-penned "Hummingbird."

King also teams with Estefan on the Grammy-winning Doc Pomus/Dr. John cut "There Must Be a Better World Somewhere"; Crow on Little Willie John's "Need Your Love So Bad"; Hall on "Ain't Nobody Home"; Van Morrison on "Early in the Morning"; Bland on "Funny How Time Slips Away"; Gibbons on King's "Tired of Your Jive"; Knopfler on "All Over Again"; Frey on Junior Parker's "Drivin' Wheel"; and John on the finale, Jimmy Rogers' "Rock This House."

Three days after "B.B. King & Friends: 80" arrives in stores, King will celebrate his 80th birthday. Despite his age, King shows no signs of slowing; he's currently in the midst of a North American roadtrip for which dates are scattered into early next year.

King, who joined the ranks of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1987, has released more than 50 albums over the course of his recording career. His most recent, "The Ultimate Collection," surfaced in Marchand features 21 tracks King originally released between 1951 and 2000.

[Note: The following tour dates have been provided by artist and/or tour sources, who verify its accuracy as of the publication time of this story. Changes may occur before tickets go on sale. Check with official artist websites, ticketing sources and venues for late updates.]
 tour dates and tickets
August 2005
26 - North Charleston, SC - North Charleston Coliseum
27 - Atlanta, GA - Chastain Park
29 - Hyannis, MA - Cape Cod Melody Tent
30 - Gilford, NH - Meadowbrook Musical Arts Center
31 - Toronto, Ontario - Molson Amphitheatre

September 2005
1 - Clarkston, MI - DTE Energy Music Theatre
3 - Champion, PA - Grey Rocks Amphitheatre
4 - Farmingville, NY - Brookhaven Amphitheatre
7 - Shelburne, VT - Green at Shelburne Museum
8 - Amherst, MA - University of Massachusetts Mullins Center
9 - Mashantucket, CT - Foxwoods Casino
10 - Atlantic City, NJ - House Of Blues
11 - Vienna, VA - Wolf Trap
22 - De Kalb, IL - Northern Illinois University Convocation Center
23 - Saint Louis, MO - Laumeier Outdoor Music Amphitheatre
24 - Charleston, WV - Charleston Civic Center Coliseum
25 - Newport News, VA - Ferguson Center
28, 29 - Nashville, TN - B.B. King's Blues Club

October 2005
1 - Louisville, KY - Palace Theatre
2, 3 - Memphis, TN - B.B. King's Blues Club
5 - San Antonio, TX - Sunset Station
7, 8 - Galveston, TX - Grand Opera House
9 - Mobile, AL - Mobile Bayfest
18 - Colorado Springs, CO - Pike's Peak
19 - Casper, WY - Casper Events Center
21 - Bozeman, MT - Valley Ice Garden

November 2005
6 - Tucson, AZ - Anselmo Valenica Amphitheater
10 - San Diego, CA - 4th & B
12 - Long Beach, CA - The Vault 350
26 - Lowell, MA - Lowell Memorial Auditorium
27-29 - New York, NY - B.B. King's Blues Club

December 2005
27 - Reno, NV - Silver Legacy Casino
29 - Phoenix, AZ - Dodge Theatre

January 2006
23 - Columbus, OH - Palace Theatre

 tour dates and tickets
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