(NEW YORK) - Blues man Keb' Mo' is poised for a slew of activity, including touring with Bonnie Raitt, hosting a television special, and working on a new album.|

The 550 Music artist will commence a U.S. tour with Raitt April 18 at Symphony Hall in San Diego; the jaunt, which will include two performances during the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, will wrap June 14 in Hollywood.

The two are old friends, with Raitt having sung on the title track of Keb' Mo's 1996 Grammy-winning album, Just Like You. Keb' Mo will take a break during the tour to host and perform in a special edition of PBS' "Austin City Limits."

Titled Best Of The Blues, the May 27 show will include previously televised performances by Muddy Waters, Albert Collins, B.B. King, Stevie Ray Vaughan and other blues greats.

Columbia/Legacy will release a companion album, Big Blues Extravaganza, May 5; the 15-track compilation will feature live recordings from the special, including Keb' Mo's "Tell Everybody I Know." In addition, Keb' Mo' is recording his third album in Los Angeles, co-producing with John Porter and John Lewis Parker. A summer '98 release is anticipated.