Grammy award winner confirms biopic on legendary singer B.B. King in the works – and The Masked Singer star taking part

The Sun

15 hours ago

A GRAMMY-award winning entertainment mogul has confirmed a poignant biopic on blues legend B.B. King - with a star from The Masked Star taking part.
Vassal Benford, who has worked with superstars including Jennifer Lopez, Michael Bublé, Diplo and Mariah Carey, hailed the beloved icon - who would have turned 100 this year.
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Benford, a famous music producer, record executive, and film composer, has teased the release of a new multi-million-dollar film on the legendary King, who died 10 years ago.
He told The U.S. Sun, "It's about Mr King's entire life story - the biopic will be shot to depict from the beginning to the end of his life."
Although Benford declined to reveal who is starring, he did reveal the names of two prominent singers whose music will feature.
One such star is Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter Aloe Blacc, who has appeared in movies such as Fast & Furious.
He also fooled viewers when disguised as "Mushroom" while singing Stevie Wonder's I Wish in season 4 of The Masked Singer.
Another singer whose music will feature in the film is Quavo, one-third of the now-separated rap duo Migos.
Quavo - who used to be a close pal of fellow rapper Chris Brown - performed at hip-hop concert Rolling Loud festival in Los Angeles in March.
Having music from such current major singers means the biopic will also intrigue a younger audience, "and make sure it is in touch with today's music," Benford said.
The mogul - who has previously produced and orchestrated a sold-out Michael Jackson Tribute Concert, featuring the legendary Jackson Family - will score the film and its music soundtrack.
Benford said, "It'll also show how B.B. King left his hometown, ended up in Memphis and kind of mentored Elvis Presley.
"It's a beautiful story."
King admired Presley - describing him as being "very shy" when he first met the then-budding star in Sun Studio in Memphis. He recalled in a TV interview, "He was a handsome guy... he would watch [me play]. He had everything, the looks, the talent, he was tall, he could sing and play."
LUCILLE
Benford added, "The story includes telling about how Lucille, his famous guitar, came about."
King played a Gibson guitar that he affectionately called Lucille.
Benford said the biopic would be a poignant tribute to the late great musician, as "B.B. King is one of the most iconic characters of all time from the blues."
The mogul, who lives in Las Vegas, Nevada, said he "knows so many people in the entertainment industry who were influenced by B.B. King."
"I want to show what his life story is and how he has impacted on so many artists - and others - across the world, with his music.
"Anyone who comes from that era who can turn around and touch the world, despite the odds, and make it big that time... I admire him his life story.
"And you have to remember this is his centenary - 100 years of blues," he added.
I want to show what his life story is and how he has impacted on so many artists.
Vassal Benford
The icon's nickname was King of the Blues, and he continued to perform well into his 80s even though the 15-time Grammy winner had diabetes.
B.B. King: more on the legendary blues king
For most of his career spanning nearly 70 years, Riley B. King was hailed as the undisputed king of the blues, thanks 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 near Itta Bena, Mississippi, King was raised by his grandmother after his parents separated and his mother died.
A preacher uncle taught him to play, and he honed his technique in abject poverty in the Mississippi Delta, the birthplace of the blues.
The legend became a mentor to scores of guitarists, including Eric Clapton, Otis Rush, Buddy Guy, Jimi Hendrix, John Mayall and Keith Richards.
King recorded more than 50 albums and toured the world, often performing 250 or more concerts a year.
He continued to perform well into his 80s, even though the 15-time Grammy winner had diabetes.
King played a Gibson guitar that he affectionately called Lucille.
His style included beautifully crafted single-string runs punctuated by loud chords, subtle vibratos and bent notes.
The result could bring chills to an audience, no more so than when King used it to full effect on his signature song, The Thrill is Gone.
He would make his guitar shout and cry in anguish as he told the tale of forsaken love, then end with a guttural shouting of the final lines: 'Now that it's all over, all I can do is wish you well.'
King died at age 89 in May 2015 at his home in Las Vegas.
King, who got his start in radio with a gospel quartet in Mississippi before moving to Memphis, Tennessee, died in 2015 at home in Vegas.
Benford said that, at the time of his passing, he had also been living in Vegas, as "my godfather lived here - he passed around the same time as B.B. King."
Because of his huge connections within the entertainment industry, he was approached by King's family to become chairman of the B.B. King Estate, where he plays a key role in preserving and expanding the legacy of the blues icon.
Benford explained, "I wasn't the chair of the estate at that time, but I was approached by the family to become its head - I was producing Richie Sambora, and met the grandson of B.B. King and one thing led to the other."
U2 TRIBUTE
He has since overseen initiatives to honor King's life and huge contributions to music.
Just last year, U2 paid tribute to the legend during their Las Vegas residency at The Sphere.
Although he didn't reveal the release date of the upcoming biopic, Benford said, "It's in pre-production right now.
"It'll be released into cinemas worldwide - there will be an announcement on the release in 2026."
He said the pre-production phase includes working alongside producer Mark Canton, known for films such as 300, Immortals, and the Power television series.
Benford is co-chairman and CEO of Benford & Canton Studios, a media production company he co-founded with Canton.
Last year he co-produced several tracks on Chris Brown's album 11.11, which received a Grammy nomination and won R&B Album of the Year at the 2025 Grammy Awards.
RUMBLE IN THE JUNGLE
Benford showed The U.S. Sun an impressive collection of memorabilia including a very rare glimpse of the original Rumble in the Jungle guitar used by B.B. King himself.
The legend used his original model at a music festival which promoted the famous heavyweight boxing match between George Foreman and Muhammad Ali in Zaire 1974.
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Who is Vassal Benford?
The renowned composer, producer, and entrepreneur has worked with dozens of stars and scored and/or produced soundtracks for multiple hit films
Vassal Benford is a 2025 Grammy Award-Winning American music producer/record executive/film producer and entertainment mogul.
In 2024, Benford landed a platinum hit with Latin super stars Jennifer Lopez and Anuel's song Rebound. The hit single was a part of a three-part project documenting Lopez's search for love and reunion with actor Ben Affleck, titled, This Is Me… Now.
He produced and orchestrated a sold-out Michael Jackson Tribute Concert featuring the legendary Jackson Family.
He lives in Las Vegas, Nevada, and is also the chairman of the B.B. King Estate, where he plays a key role in preserving and expanding the legacy of the blues icon, who died a decade ago.
His impressive career saw him being mentored and collaborating with music legends such as Quincy Jones, Don Davis, and Clarence Avant.
Benford's production expertise has played a pivotal role in crafting platinum hits for global superstars including 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, Faith Evans, and Lisa Stansfield.
He has also scored and/or produced soundtracks for notable titles, including Arnold Schwarzenegger's The Running Man; New Jack City; Kid & Play's Class Act; Whoopi Goldberg's The Associate; Melrose Place; Beverly Hills, 90210; and Billy Bob Thornton's The Smell of Success.
The mogul is the co-chairman and CEO of Benford & Canton Studios, a media production company he co-founded with producer Mark Canton, known for films such as 300, Immortals, and the Power television series.
Source: Vassal Benford