Print-friendly Version
B.B. King bids farewell to international audiences
Following his current US tour--which now stretches deep into March--80-year-old blues legend B.B. King , a hardened road warrior who has toured non-stop for decades, will mount a farewell tour to say goodbye to his international fans.
Described as in a press release as King's "last swing around the globe," the farewell outing begins with a late-March/early April tour of the UK. No additional foreign-touring plans have been announced yet.
After bidding adieu to international audiences, King plans to "[confine] the bulk of his still numerous live show appearances in future years to North America," his publicist said in announcement released Friday (1/20).
"I think the clock is ticking, yes," King said in a statement. "In fact, I know it is. Frank Sinatra sang about 'the September of [his] years'; I think I'm in the November of my years."
Despite slowing down his international roadwork, King has no plans to retire.
"I'm a diabetic, yes, but I'm pretty healthy," he said. "I'm 80 years old, yes, but I get along very well; I hardly remember I'm 80 unless I have to run up a hill or stairs. As long as people buy my records and come to my concerts, I don't see anything else I'd like to do."
King celebrated his 80th birthday last September, and marked the occasion with that month's release of "80," an album that features the singer/guitarist performing a dozen blues standards with some help from Eric Clapton, Elton John, Roger Daltrey, Sheryl Crow, John Mayer, Gloria Estefan, Glenn Frey, Mark Knopfler, Billy Gibbons, Bobby Bland and Daryl Hall.
Born on Sept. 16, 1925, King joined the ranks of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1987, and has released more than 50 albums over the course of his recording career.
