Blues Intro Question -

Hey folks
I'm wondering if anyone could shed some light on this.

I'm working on a new CD, and one song is a slow blues inspired by BB King. He's been a huge influence *yatta yatta yatta praise speech you've heard a million times* and especially since he's passed, this is a tune I want to focus heavily on.

Its an original tune, however, with blues, where does the copyright line get drawn? As a lead in lick I wanted to do a sort of BB intro ala Sweet Sixteen, Three O'Clock Blues, however, that also gets into "copycat" and/or "ripoff" territory that artists and estates can get angry over. I'm not intending it to be a stolen thing, more an ode to. I've heard Stevie Ray's licks repeated more times than I can count by other artists, even very big artists, but particularly with a lead in, it seems more to be part of the formula of the song as opposed to just a section of a solo.

Any input?

Hope you've all been well.
Jack