“We wanted to reach a younger and different audience by taking these timeless classics and adding some funk to it”: In 2025, a B.B. King Blues Experience tour has been announced to commemorate the legendary blues musician’s 100th birthday.
The ten-piece band for The Thrill Lives On tour, scheduled to embark on the road in 2019, will be joined by a former Aretha Franklin guitarist, King’s own daughter, and B.B.’s drummer of thirty years.
In 2025, a B.B. King Blues Experience tour has been announced for the USA and Europe. The trip is intended to commemorate the late blues guitar legend’s 100th birthday.
The Thrill Lives, fronted by King’s own daughter Claudette A group featuring Grammy-winning vocalist Grady Champion and longtime B.B. drummer Tony “T.C.” Coleman will perform several of the legendary blues songs while on tour.
Wilbert Crosby, the guitarist, has been brought in for the event. Throughout his career, Crosby—a native of Chicago—has shared the stage with legendary blues performers such as Eddie “The Chief” Clearwater, Aretha Franklin, Carey Bell, Mavis and Pops Staples, and more.
In addition to playing guitar with George Benson and Franklin for five years before her passing, Crosby is currently the resident guitarist for the B.B. King Band, which features Tito Jackson.
The ten-piece band, which will include Crosby, Coleman, Champion, and Claudette, will perform a variety of songs, including You Upset Me Baby, When Love Comes to Town, and The Thrill is Gone.
The sounds of soul and funk acts like The Gap Band, Sly and Family Stone, and others will be incorporated into the reimagining of these iconic King songs, according to individuals involved.
“To reach a younger and different audience, we wanted to take these timeless classics and add some funk to it,” says Champion.
Claudette continues, “It is a blessing and a privilege to be able to continue sharing my father’s music with audiences around the world.”
“I’m ecstatic to be sharing the B.B. King Blues Experience with new audiences and enabling them to feel the excitement of this music live.”
Dates for the upcoming B.B. King Blues Experience Thrill Lives On Tour will be revealed later in the year.
