The new album takes on political subject matter, which Cray is not unfamilar with. The title track adopts the persona of “an innocent young guy, who, after the events of 9/11, wants to do his part for his country. “He ends up losing his life. It’s a subject that needs to be spoken about.” said Cray.

The album is set to be released on May 24, a somewhat significant date, considering the subject matter. It’s the 64th birth of day Bob Dylan, the man famous for writing some of the most important protest songs of the 60’s.

A thoroughly accomplished blues artist, Cray has worked with the biggest names in the business. His name shows up in the credits for albums by the likes of John Lee Hooker, Eric Clapton, and B.B. King – whom Cray will be appearing with several times this summer.

Cray gave several standout performances at Eric Clapton’s Crossroads Guitar festival last summer with his own band and in an all star jam session with Clapton, Buddy Guy, Robert Randolph, Hubert Sumlin and Jimmie Vaughan.

But stylistically, his songs don’t stick to straight-up blues. Over the course of 14 albums and several hundred concerts (the band kicked off 2005 by playing their 1000th gig with the current lineup), Cray has developed a signature sound that envelopes soul, R&B and pure rock ‘n’ roll.

The tour begins May 14 in Kansas City, Mo., and hops over to California for the remainder of the month. The first half of June plays out on the East Coast.

Cray will hit European shores on June 17 with a show in Aberdeen, Scotland. Several more European countries are on the bill, including a show in Switzerland at the Montreaux Jazz Festival with B.B. King on July 4.

The band returns home at the beginning of August and will continue touring the U.S. until the end of the month.