Five-time Grammy winner, blues influenced Americana artist Keb’ Mo’ will release his 17th solo album, “The Breakdown”, on August 21st, 2026, featuring intimate acoustic performances and collaborations with the Soweto Gospel Choir and Take 6.
“The Breakdown” is Keb’ Mo’s most stripped-down and personal album to date in a 50-year career, recorded at his home studio outside Nashville. The 10-track collection focuses purely on just his voice and guitar, with vocal contributions from the Soweto Gospel Choir and the gospel sextet Take 6.
The album was written following life-changing events, including life-saving open-heart surgery and the end of his nearly 20-year marriage. As Keb’ explains: “It felt like everything in my life was breaking down; my health, my relationship, my whole world. The only way I knew how to respond was to break the music down, too”.
While the album is deeply rooted in Keb’s personal story, the songs also stand as broader commentary on the state of the world at large.
“Fussing and Fighting” was the first single taken from the album, released with a live performance video. The song explores conflict and reconciliation in both personal and societal contexts. “ ‘Fussing and Fighting’ sprang from the way relationships can suddenly go south. Sometimes things just don’t work out, and you’re left wondering,“What happened?,” he explains.
Follow-up single “Hand It Over”, features the Soweto Gospel Choir, reimagining a song from Keb’s 1996 Grammy-winning album “Just Like You”, recorded in Johannesburg, South Africa. Gospel group Take 6 feature on the album track “They Don’t Make ‘Em Like They Used To”.
“The Breakdown” marks Keb’ Mo’s first solo album release since his Grammy-nominated 2021 album “Good To Be”, and his first since his career nearly came to an abrupt end in 2024 when he began experiencing shortness of breath on tour with Slash.
“I was struggling to breathe and thought there must be something wrong with my lungs,” Keb’ recalls. “When I finally got off the road, I went to the doctor, and they sent me straight to the emergency room.” The problem was not with his lungs, but rather his heart. A leaking valve and an aortic aneurysm required intensive surgery, and the lengthy rehabilitation period forced the postponement of a slew of tour dates.
“It felt like death was tapping me on the shoulder,” Keb’ explains. “I’d been going around feeling healthy and strong all these years, and suddenly I had to face the possibility that I might not make it. I had to go through some difficult experiences to get these songs, but I learned a lot looking back on my life and my relationships and taking inventory of everything in a new light.
“I’m turning 75 this year and I know I won’t be around forever. All you can do is make the most of what you’ve got and be grateful for every step of the journey”. Keb’ Mo’, aka Californian Kevin Moore, blends blues, folk, roots, jazz, and soul on the new album, which will be released via Concord Records on 21st August 2026 in CD, LP, and digital formats.
Keb’ will join forces with Taj Mahal for the “TajMo” tour around the the USA in September, and then Keb’ will hit the road with his band across the US in November. 2027 cruise gigs are as below:
01/09–01/15–Fort Lauderdale, FL–Sandy Beaches Cruise 2027 (full band)
01/16–01/23–Fort Lauderdale, FL–The Big Easy Cruise 2027 (full band)
01/31–02/7–Ft Lauderdale, FL–Legendary Rhythm and Blues Cruise
Keb Mo: “Track Record”
1. First single you owned?
The first single I owned was one my older sister’s singles: “Do You Love Me” by The Contours.
2. First LP/album you owned?
I didn’t buy an LP for a long time because I was too short on cash, and $5.98 was actually a lot, so I would go over to my friends’ house to listen to their albums, or listen to the radio, but I remember buying LPs by Earth, Wind and Fire, and by Boz Scaggs.
3. First CD you owned?
I would prioritise listening to the radio, because I didn’t own a CD player. I can’t remember the first CD that I ever owned; I think it was given to me. But I had a Bobby Caldwell CD that I liked very much.
4. Last music you bought and in what format (CD/vinyl/digital download)?
I’m not too sure. In our digital age, there’s so much music available, I can’t remember which is the last music that I bought.
5. Favourite album? (Choose more than one if need be…)
A lot of times people ask me what my favourite venue to play in is. I don’t have many favourite things that I like to do. I don’t even have a favourite sweater.
I don’t have a favourite. I got (sic) a favourite pair of sneaks (sic) I’m wearing right now! I could perhaps mention this album, which is for a lot of lovers: “Songs in the Key of Life” by Stevie Wonder. “Possibilities” by Herbie Hancock, or also “River: The Joni Letters” by Herbie Hancock.
6. Anything unusual or perhaps unexpected in your music collection?
My music collection is so vast; I love big hit records, but I also listen to a lot of meditation music, because I do a lot of meditating.
“Back In Black” by Amy Winehouse, yeah. Stuff like that, that’s badass. I’m kind of all over the map. I like things that are good, you know. It doesn’t matter what the genre is. I also love Jeff Beck’s version of “Over the Rainbow” with the London Philharmonic Orchestra. That’s one of my favourite things to listen to.
I have a very crude way of playing [guitar], but I think I have pretty sophisticated tastes. At the same time, I don’t have favourites, and some things I hear, I just don’t want to know who did it.
7. Which song or album is a guaranteed mood booster?
“Fly Me to the Moon” by Tony Bennett.
8. Your favourite driving track – or music to exercise to?
I don’t really need music to exercise. Kindly, I mean, I think I’m a fan of life, and through music and life, I get to express life through music, so having a favourite kind of music is not really my strong suit. What’s that big hit that AC/DC had?
9. Which song takes you back to your childhood – and to which specific memory/memories?
A song that takes me back to my childhood would be, “Get A Job” by The Silhouettes. It’s also the first song I heard that got my little groove going. That was a badass song. I freaked out when I heard that.
10. Favourite band (or bands)?
My favourite band is Devo. Why? That’s an odd choice. They’re the most interesting band of my lifetime.
11. Favourite singer (or singers)?
My favourite male singer is the late James Ingram. My favourite female singer is probably Amy Winehouse.
12. Which song would you like played at your funeral?
Taj Mahal’s version of “You Rascal You” [which features the lyrics: “I’ll Be Glad When You’re Dead And Gone, You Old Rascal, You”].
Photo credits: Rachel Deed /Ray Monzana [Soweto choir shot)
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