BB King: Rolling Stones helped Blues

B.B. King says that having the Rolling Stones back on the road is good news for the blues. The veteran bluesman has worked often with the Stones, who cite him as one of their influences. King told us that artists such as the Stones, Eric Clapton, the Yardbirds, and others have been important in helping to expose the blues to different audiences: [ click here to listen if you have a Backstage Pass] "We had groups like the Rolling Stones... many of the British groups introduced the blues to white America and that was a big plus for us... You have to give them credit. These guys were popular, and they opened the doors for many of us to be heard."

King collaborated with the Rolling Stones on a version of his "Paying The Cost To Be The Boss" from his 1997 Deuces Wild album.

The Rolling Stones continue their A Bigger Bang tour on Tuesday, August 23rd in Boston. The B.B. King Blues Festival 2005 stops in Hyannis, Massachusetts.