Photo Credit: B.B. King by Tom Beetz / CC by 2.0
A tribute to B.B. King’s “Lucille Talks Back” for its 50th anniversary is coming to Memphis alongside the all-star remake of the original 1975 album.
A landmark tribute to one of blues music’s most transcendent and overlooked recordings is coming: an all-star remake of B.B. King’s 1975 album, Lucille Talks Back. Executive produced by Meshell Ndegeocello, the project brings together an extraordinary ensemble of artists to honor King’s life, music, and cultural impact.
The album release will be marked by a special celebratory event in Memphis, with live performances woven throughout the evening to create an immersive celebration of B.B. King’s life, legacy, and the mark he has left on Memphis and the world. The event takes place on June 25 at 7 PM at Memphis’ New Daisy.
Released in 1975, the original Lucille Talks Back stands as one of B.B. King’s most soulful and emotionally rich recordings—a masterwork that fused Rhythm & Soul with his signature blues style in new and unique ways. Despite this, the album never received widespread distribution, and is not found on major streaming platforms in its entirety. That leaves it largely unknown to contemporary audiences.
“A superfan discovered the album and uploaded it to YouTube,” said Adrienne Muhammad, Director of Sync at Open On Sunday. “It contains eight amazing songs.” Muhammad told Digital Music News last June that Open On Sunday was in the process of working with its sync team for brand partnerships to further buoy the album’s success.
The remake will be released on June 26 with a mission to bring King’s vision to the people it was meant to reach. Under the creative direction of Executive Producer Meshell Ndegeocello, the album has been reimagined to breathe new life into each track while honoring the heart and soul of the original recordings. The project features artists like Eric Gales, Ledisi, Ann Nesby, Cam Anthony, INK, Cory Henry, Avery Sunshine, and Doyle Bramhall II.
