Grammy award winner confirms biopic on legendary singer B.B. King within the works – and The Masked Singer star participating
A GRAMMY-award profitable leisure mogul has confirmed a poignant biopic on blues legend B.B. King – with a star from The Masked Star participating.
Vassal Benford, who has labored with superstars together with Jennifer Lopez, Michael Bublé, Diplo and Mariah Carey, hailed the beloved icon – who would have turned 100 this yr.
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Benford, a well-known music producer, report govt, and movie composer, has teased the discharge of a brand new multi-million-dollar movie on the legendary King, who died 10 years in the past.
He informed The U.S. Solar, “It is about Mr King’s whole life story – the biopic will likely be shot to depict from the start to the tip of his life.”
Though Benford declined to disclose who’s starring, he did reveal the names of two distinguished singers whose music will function.
One such star is Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter Aloe Blacc, who has appeared in films similar to Quick & Livid.
He additionally fooled viewers when disguised as “Mushroom” whereas singing Stevie Surprise’s I Want in season 4 of The Masked Singer.
One other singer whose music will function within the movie is Quavo, one-third of the now-separated rap duo Migos.
Quavo – who was an in depth pal of fellow rapper Chris Brown – carried out at hip-hop live performance Rolling Loud pageant in Los Angeles in March.
Having music from such present main singers means the biopic may also intrigue a youthful viewers, “and ensure it’s in contact with as we speak’s music,” Benford stated.
The mogul – who has beforehand produced and orchestrated a sold-out Michael Jackson Tribute Live performance, that includes the legendary Jackson Household – will rating the movie and its music soundtrack.
Benford stated, “It will additionally present how B.B. King left his hometown, ended up in Memphis and type of mentored Elvis Presley.
“It is an exquisite story.”
King admired Presley – describing him as being “very shy” when he first met the then-budding star in Solar Studio in Memphis. He recalled in a TV interview, “He was a good-looking man… he would watch [me play]. He had every little thing, the seems to be, the expertise, he was tall, he may sing and play.”
LUCILLE
Benford added, “The story consists of telling about how Lucille, his well-known guitar, took place.”
King performed a Gibson guitar that he affectionately referred to as Lucille.
Benford stated the biopic can be a poignant tribute to the late nice musician, as “B.B. King is among the most iconic characters of all time from the blues.”
The mogul, who lives in Las Vegas, Nevada, stated he “is aware of so many individuals within the leisure trade who have been influenced by B.B. King.”
“I wish to present what his life story is and the way he has impacted on so many artists – and others – the world over, along with his music.
“Anybody who comes from that period who can flip round and contact the world, regardless of the percentages, and make it massive that point… I love him his life story.
“And it’s a must to bear in mind that is his centenary – 100 years of blues,” he added.
I wish to present what his life story is and the way he has impacted on so many artists.
The icon’s nickname was King of the Blues, and he continued to carry out effectively into his 80s regardless that the 15-time Grammy winner had diabetes.
B.B. King: extra on the legendary blues king
For many of his profession spanning almost 70 years, Riley B. King was hailed because the undisputed king of the blues, due to his scorching guitar licks and heartfelt vocals – sung with a velvety voice.
Born Riley B. King on Sept. 16, 1925, on a tenant farm close to Itta Bena, Mississippi, King was raised by his grandmother after his dad and mom separated and his mom died.
A preacher uncle taught him to play, and he honed his approach in abject poverty within the Mississippi Delta, the birthplace of the blues.
The legend turned a mentor to scores of guitarists, together with Eric Clapton, Otis Rush, Buddy Man, Jimi Hendrix, John Mayall and Keith Richards.
King recorded greater than 50 albums and toured the world, typically performing 250 or extra live shows a yr.
He continued to carry out effectively into his 80s, regardless that the 15-time Grammy winner had diabetes.
King performed a Gibson guitar that he affectionately referred to as Lucille.
His type included fantastically crafted single-string runs punctuated by loud chords, refined vibratos and bent notes.
The end result may carry chills to an viewers, no extra so than when King used it to full impact on his signature tune, The Thrill is Gone.
He would make his guitar shout and cry in anguish as he informed the story of forsaken love, then finish with a guttural shouting of the ultimate strains: “Now that it’s throughout, all I can do is want you effectively.”
King died at age 89 in Could 2015 at his residence in Las Vegas.
King, who bought his begin in radio with a gospel quartet in Mississippi earlier than transferring to Memphis, Tennessee, died in 2015 at residence in Vegas.
Benford stated that, on the time of his passing, he had additionally been residing in Vegas, as “my godfather lived right here – he handed across the similar time as B.B. King.”
Due to his big connections inside the leisure trade, he was approached by King’s household to turn into chairman of the B.B. King Property, the place he performs a key function in preserving and increasing the legacy of the blues icon.
Benford defined, “I wasn’t the chair of the property at the moment, however I used to be approached by the household to turn into its head – I used to be producing Richie Sambora, and met the grandson of B.B. King and one factor led to the opposite.”
U2 TRIBUTE
He has since overseen initiatives to honor King’s life and large contributions to music.
Simply final yr, U2 paid tribute to the legend throughout their Las Vegas residency at The Sphere.
Though he did not reveal the discharge date of the upcoming biopic, Benford stated, “It is in pre-production proper now.
“It will be launched into cinemas worldwide – there will likely be an announcement on the discharge in 2026.”
He stated the pre-production section consists of working alongside producer Mark Canton, recognized for movies similar to 300, Immortals, and the Energy tv sequence.
Benford is co-chairman and CEO of Benford & Canton Studios, a media manufacturing firm he co-founded with Canton.
Final yr he co-produced a number of tracks on Chris Brown’s album 11.11, which acquired a Grammy nomination and received R&B Album of the Yr on the 2025 Grammy Awards.
RUMBLE IN THE JUNGLE
Benford confirmed The U.S. Solar a powerful assortment of memorabilia together with a really uncommon glimpse of the unique Rumble within the Jungle guitar utilized by B.B. King himself.
The legend used his unique mannequin at a music pageant which promoted the well-known heavyweight boxing match between George Foreman and Muhammad Ali in Zaire 1974.
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Who’s Vassal Benford?
The famend composer, producer, and entrepreneur has labored with dozens of stars and scored and/or produced soundtracks for a number of hit movies
Vassal Benford is a 2025 Grammy Award-Successful American music producer/report govt/movie producer and leisure mogul.
In 2024, Benford landed a platinum hit with Latin tremendous stars Jennifer Lopez and Anuel’s tune Rebound. The hit single was part of a three-part challenge documenting Lopez’s seek for love and reunion with actor Ben Affleck, titled, This Is Me… Now.
He produced and orchestrated a sold-out Michael Jackson Tribute Live performance that includes the legendary Jackson Household.
He lives in Las Vegas, Nevada, and can also be the chairman of the B.B. King Property, the place he performs a key function in preserving and increasing the legacy of the blues icon, who died a decade in the past.
His spectacular profession noticed him being mentored and collaborating with music legends similar to Quincy Jones, Don Davis, and Clarence Avant.
Benford’s manufacturing experience has performed a pivotal function in crafting platinum hits for world superstars together with Jennifer Lopez, Michael Bublé, Justin Bieber, Nicki Minaj, Toni Braxton, David Guetta, Anuel, Diplo, Flo Rida, U2, Richie Sambora (Bon Jovi), Queen Latifah, The Jacksons, Mariah Carey, Patti LaBelle, Religion Evans, and Lisa Stansfield.
He has additionally scored and/or produced soundtracks for notable titles, together with Arnold Schwarzenegger’s The Operating Man; New Jack Metropolis; Child & Play’s Class Act; Whoopi Goldberg’s The Affiliate; Melrose Place; Beverly Hills, 90210; and Billy Bob Thornton’s The Odor of Success.
The mogul is the co-chairman and CEO of Benford & Canton Studios, a media manufacturing firm he co-founded with producer Mark Canton, recognized for movies similar to 300, Immortals, and the Energy tv sequence.
Supply: Vassal Benford
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