“To be in the T-Birds, you need to understand the different styles of music and different ways of playing,” Wilson said. “You have to be willing to adopt a more contemporary style. The guys we have now are able to do that.”

With guitarists Kirk Fletcher and Nick Curran, drummer Jimi Bott, bassist Ronnie James and keyboardist Gene Taylor, Wilson is already taking the newest version of the T-Birds for a spin, starting June 24 in Huntington, N.Y. There are dates through October, including stops at casinos, amphitheatres and festivals.

Wilson started the band with Jimmie Vaughan in 1974, and the Austin, Texas-based unit hit the big time in 1986 when three songs off their Tuff Enuff album hit the Top 40: the title track, “Wrap It Up” and “Look At That.” Vaughan left the group in 1989.

Wilson was practically adopted at an early age by Muddy Waters, who said the T-Bird man was his favorite vocalist and harmonica player. Wilson has a side project called Kim Wilson’s Blues Review and owns the Blue Collar Music record label.