B.B. King gets own XM radio show

WASHINGTON, July 14 (UPI) -- Octogenarian U.S. bluesman B.B. King is getting his own weekly radio show and will begin his duties as host starting in September, XM Radio announced Monday.

The company said the program will feature a broad range of blues and gospel music hand-selected by King, along with stories about the artists and other personal anecdotes from the 82-year-old performer's career.

In anticipation of King's debut as host, XM Monday renamed its dedicated blues channel "Bluesville" as "B.B. King's Bluesville."

"I love the blues and am looking forward to sharing my passion, stories and my favorite music with all the folks who listen to XM, one of the few places where the vibrant sounds of the blues still thrive," King said in a statement.