Premiere: Kenny Wayne Shepherd's 'Palace of the King'

Kenny Wayne Shepherd pays tribute to his musical heroes on his forthcoming album Goin' Home.

The album, due May 20 from Concord Music Group, features tunes made famous by the likes of B.B. King, Albert King, Muddy Waters and giants of the blues. Palace of the King, premiering at USA TODAY, is a ferocious take on a tune originally cut by Freddie King.

"The Rebirth Brass Band out of New Orleans joined us to play horns, but the rest of the musicians are just me and my band," Shepherd says. "I think it's a pretty solid nod to the original."

Freddie King's original version appeared on his 1971 Getting Ready ... album for Leon Russell's Shelter Records. Russell wrote the song with Booker T. & the MG's bassist Donald "Duck" Dunn and Don Nix.

Shepherd's band — singer Noah Hunt, ex-Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble drummer Chris Layton, former Firm bassist Tony Franklin and keyboardist Riley Osbourn — back the five-time Grammy nominee throughout Goin' Home. The album also features several high-profile guests.

Ringo Starr plays drums on Cut You Loose, a song originally done by Buddy Guy and Junior Wells. Joe Walsh contributes guitar and Kim Wilson of the Fabulous Thunderbirds plays harmonica on I Live the Life I Love by Willie Dixon. Steel guitarist Robert Randolph joins Shepherd to cover Muddy Waters' Still a Fool. Albert King's Born Under a Bad Sign features Keb' Mo', and his Breaking Up Somebody's Home features guitarist Warren Haynes.

"This isn't the kind of album that focuses on all these great guest artists, though we certainly want people to be aware they're on it," Shepherd says. "It was me reaching out to some of my friends, asking them to join me on this personal journey of reflection on and appreciation of the blues."