NEW YORK, NY. (Top40 Charts/ SIRIUS XM Radio) - SIRIUS XM
Radio (Nasdaq: SIRI) today announced the launch of You and Me with B.B. King, a new hour-long music show to be hosted each week by 2009 Grammy Award-winning bluesman, B.B. King. You and Me with B.B. King will air each week exclusively on SIRIUS XM's B.B. King's Bluesville channel on SIRIUS and XM channels 74. The show will debut, with a new episode each week, on Friday, February 20 at 6 pm ET with encore broadcasts airing on Saturday, February 21 at 2 pm ET; Monday, February 23 at 12 am ET; and Wednesday, February 25 at 12 pm ET.
"I'll be coming to B.B. King's Bluesville channel every week to tell you stories and answer your questions," said B.B. King. "I'm the mayor of Bluesville and my official proclamation: you're welcome anytime!"
"We're thrilled to give our listeners one of the few places where iconic artists like B.B. King and the blues can still be heard on the radio," said Scott Greenstein, SIRIUS XM Radio's President and Chief Content Officer. "This highlights SIRIUS XM Radio's ongoing commitment to bring unique music experiences to our subscribers with their favorite artists."
Each week, B.B. King will personally select a broad range of blues music featuring his favorite songs by peers from the past and today's artists. The blues legend will also share personal anecdotes and stories about the artists who inspire him as well as offer commentary on music that has made him a musical inspiration for generations of musicians. SIRIUS XM listeners will also hear from special guests including Johnny Winter, Buddy Guy, Albert Cummings and Keb' Mo who have worked with and have been influenced by King. King will also answer email questions from fans in a weekly "B.B. King's Mailbag" feature.
B.B. King, along with legendary recording artists and musicians including Jimmy Buffett, Bob Dylan, Eminem, Grateful Dead, David Johansen, Wynton Marsalis, Willie Nelson, Mojo Nixon, Elvis Presley, Tom Petty, Marky Ramone, Lou Reed, Frank Sinatra, Bruce Springsteen and "Little Steven" Van Zandt represent the diverse and creative artist-driven music programming currently being broadcast by SIRIUS XM.
You and Me with B.B. King will air each week on Friday at 6 pm, with encore presentations broadcast on Saturday at 2 pm ET, Monday at 12 am ET and Wednesday at 12 pm ET.
B.B. King's Bluesville channel broadcasts more than 80 years of music for all lovers of the blues. Listeners will hear favorite artists from the roots of blues music to the best of today, including Stevie Ray Vaughan, Muddy Waters, Buddy Guy, Eric Clapton, Etta James, Robert Cray, Keb' Mo', Taj Mahal, John Lee Hooker. Please visit www.sirius.com or www.xmradio.com for more information.
Since B.B. King started recording in the 1940s, he has defined the blues for a worldwide audience. King has released over 50 albums and has won 15 Grammy Awards, including his 2009 win for "Best Traditional Blues Album" for One Kind Favor. King has also been inducted into the Blues Foundation Hall of Fame and the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Additionally, he has received the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the National Medal of the Arts, the Kennedy Center Honors, the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award and the NARM (National Association of Recording Merchandisers) Chairman's Award, among many other awards. In a special ceremony at the Library of Congress, Librarian of Congress, James H. Billington presented King with a "Living Legend" medal in honor of his achievements as a musician and ambassador for the blues. After 10,000 concerts, B.B. King continues to bring his music to audiences around the globe spending the better part of each year on the road with his beloved guitar, "Lucille."
