B.B. King plots return to international stages
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Buoyed by his hot-selling latest studio album, B.B. King has reversed his earlier decision to retire from international touring, and will head to Europe for an overseas summer trek.
The legendary bluesman has sandwiched the 19-city outing, which kicks off June 24 in Manchester, England, between legs of an ongoing North American campaign that is set to continue Saturday night (5/16) in Las Vegas.
In 2006, the then-80-year-old performer announced a run of European dates as his "last swing around the globe," stating that his age was a factor in the decision to curtail international touring.
"I think the clock is ticking, yes," King said in a statement at the time. "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."
Upon returning from Europe, King will kick off another edition of the B.B. King Blues Festival. While a full list of performers who will accompany King on the summer arena jaunt hasn't been announced yet, blues-rocker Robert Cray will be along for the trek's opening night show, Aug. 19 in Clarkston, MI. King's complete schedule, including his European tour plans, is included below.
King, a 14-time Grammy winner, scored the highest-debuting solo album of his nearly 60-year career with his latest release, "One Kind Favor." The set, which surfaced in August of last year, debuted at No. 37 on The Billboard 200 chart.
"One Kind Favor," produced by T Bone Burnett (Robert Plant & Alison Krauss, Roy Orbison), features covers of old blues songs that inspired King as a young man, and was made to sound like it was recorded in the '50s. Players include Dr. John on piano, Nathan East on standup bass and Jim Keltner on drums. The track "See That My Grave Is Kept Clean" is streaming at King's MySpace page.
May 2009
16 - Las Vegas, NV - Mandalay Bay
17 - Dana Point, CA - Doheny Blues Festival
19 - Santa Rosa, CA - Wells Fargo Center for the Arts
21 - San Francisco, CA - The Fillmore
22 - Saratoga, CA - The Mountain Winery
23 - Santa Cruz, CA - Santa Cruz Blues Festival
27 - El Paso, TX - Palace Theater
29 - Houston, TX - Arena Theater
30 - New Orleans, LA - New Orleans Arena
31 - Dallas, TX - House of Blues
June 2009
24 - Manchester, England - Manchester Evening News Arena
25 - Birmingham, England - Cardiff International Arena
28 - London, England - Wembley Arena
July 2009
1 - Helsinki, Finland - Icehall
3 - Gothenburg, Sweden - Tradgarn
5 - Sonderborg, Denmark - Molleparken
6 - Hamburg, Germany - Color Line Arena
8 - Ghent, Belgium - Byloke
10 - Rotterdam, Netherlands - North Sea Jazz
11 - Frankfurt, Germany - Ballsporthalle
12 - Montreaux, Switzerland - Jazz Festival
15 - Prague, Czech Republic - Tesla Arena
16 - Budapest, Hungary - Sports Arena
17 - Vienna, Austria - Wiener Konzerthaus
19 - Perugia, Italy - Perugia-Umbria Jazz Festival
20 - Nice, France - Nice Jazz Festival
22 - Paris, France - Palais des Congres de Paris
23 - Cognac, France - Cognac Blues Passions Festival
24 - Vienne, France - Theatre Antique
August 2009
19 - Clarkston, MI - DTE Energy Center
21 - Hyannis, MA - Cape Cod Melody Tent
22 - Cohasset, MA - South Shore Music Circus
23 - Florence, MA - Look Park - Pines Theatre
25 - Morristown, NJ - Community Theatre
27 - Bethel, NY - Bethel Woods Center for the Arts
28 - Hampton Beach, NH - Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom
29 - Westbury, CT - The Capitol One Bank Theatre
30 - Vienna, VA - Filene Center at Wolf Trap
September 2009
2 - Mableton, GA - Mable House Amphitheatre
October 2009
3 - Myrtle Beach, SC - House of Blues
6 - Charlotte, NC - Fillmore Charlotte
9 - Cleveland, OH - House of Blues
November 2009
19 - San Bernardino, CA - Coussoulis Arena
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Featured Photos: B.B. King in Morristown, NJ - Aug. 25, 2009 [August 2009]
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