B.B. King Rides Again

B.B. King will release Reflections, his first album in three years, on June 10th. According to the blues legend, who celebrates the fiftieth anniversary of his first recording this year, the new batch of tracks sticks to his tried-and-true formula. "When I sing, I play in my mind," he says. "The minute I stop singing orally, I start to sing by playing Lucille."

The thirteen-track album contains twelve covers, including songs by Lonnie Johnson and Clyde Otis, as well a remake of King's own "Neighborhood Affair," originally recorded half a century ago.

Reflections was produced by Simon Climie -- who also recorded Riding With the King, King's Grammy-winning 2000 collaboration with Eric Clapton -- at Record One studios in Sherman Oaks, California.

In preparation for the album's release, King is currently touring the U.S.

B.B. King tour dates:

4/15-16: Milwaukee, WI, Potawatomi Casino
4/18-19: Merrilville, IN, Star Plaza Theater
4/20: Cleveland, Palace Theater
4/23: Marie, MI, Kewadin Casino
4/24: Mt. Pleasant, MI, Soaring Eagle Casino
4/25: Muncie, IN, Emens Auditorium
4/26: Dekalb, IL, Northern Illinois University Convention Center
4/27: Urbana, IL, Lincoln Square
5/12: Boston, Boston Pops
5/13: Peoria, IL, Civic Center
5/14: Springfield, MO, Shrine Mosque
5/16: Wichita, KS, The Cotillion
5/17: Lincoln, NE, Lied Center for Performing Arts
5/18: West Des Moines, IA, Valau Ballroom
5/19: Cedar Falls, IA, Gallagher-Bluedron Performing Arts Center
5/20: Davenport, IA, The Adler Theater
5/21: Green Bay, WI, Weidner Center for the Performing Arts
5/23: Tulsa, OK, River Parks Amphitheater
5/24: Lubbock, TX, Civic Center
5/25: Oklahoma City, Zoo Amphitheater
6/2: New York, Apollo Theater
6/6: Indianola, MS, Fletcher Park
6/7: Hattiesburg, MS, TBD
6/8: Canton, MS, TBD
6/12: Cohasset, MA, Cape Cod Melody
6/13: Northampton, MA, Calvin Theater
6/14: Big Flats, NY, Summer Soundstage
6/15: New York, BB King's

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Song Stories

“Oh Sherrie”

Steve Perry | 1984

Steve Perry's girlfriend Sherrie Swafford was actually in the studio when Perry began writing this song--his lone Top Ten hit as a solo act--with two co-writers. The trio began at midnight one night with just "Oh, Sherrie!" and "hold on, hold on." Three hours later, they had a complete song. Swafford, however, had to wait until the next day to hear it. "Sherrie actually got tired and went to bed," Perry said. She also appeared in the video, but their relationship did not hold on for long.

More Song Stories entries »

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