John C. Reilly is looking to do some more recording this summer, hopefully resulting in a full album of rootsy folk and Americana covers to follow the two singles he's released so far on Jack White's Third Man Records label.

"We hope to do (an album)," the Academy Award-nominated actor of "Chicago" and "Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story" tells Billboard. "We get asked about that a lot, especially at shows. The songs aren't going anywhere. They're as old as the hills. It's almost like borrowing the music from the audience and playing it back for them, and it ends up being like a community experience. I'm not saying I'm as good as the people that came before me, but I'm still alive, and someone's gotta carry the torch."

Reilly's sessions will likely feature members of his & Friends collective that he regularly performs with, including a recent Midwest tour -- primarily Tom Brosseau and Becky Stark (the Living Sisters, the Decemberists) as well as singer-songwriter Dan Bern, former Old Crow Medicine Show member Willie Watson and bassist Sebastian Steinberg. 

"It's just kind of a labor of love," explains Reilly, a Chicago native who was introduced to Celtic folk music by his parents. "It's music I was really interested in and have been playing with friends. It's a really rewarding thing to do -- not to make money, certainly, or to get famous or whatever. It's just really moving music to play and share with people. All of a sudden I found myself with a band, and when I started to play out here in Los Angeles with some friends, people immediately started giving us positive feedback."

White -- who released Reilly's versions of Ray Price's "I'll Be There If You Want" and a cover of the Delmore Brothers' "Gonna Lay Down My Old Guitar" -- became a friend through social acquaintances, and Reilly convinced him to play Elvis Presley in "Walk Hard." 

"We stayed in touch," says Reilly, who also recorded a pair of songs for the 2006 compilation "Rogue's Gallery: Pirate Ballads, Sea Songs, and Chanteys and has appeared in videos for the Beastie Boys ("Make Some Noise") and the Jon Spencer Blues Explosion ("Talk About the Blues"). "And he said, 'Well, if you ever want to do anything and want it to be recorded, you should come down to Nashville. I have this recording studio. You can stay at my house and we can have a record out in 24 hours. I thought, 'This is an opportunity I should not pass up.' "

Reilly, who recently provided a lead voice (and co-wrote) for the animated feature "Wreck-It Ralph" and appears in the forthcoming "Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues," has "a couple irons in the fire" for future acting projects, but is putting some emphasis on the music right now. And he's happy to keep playing live until the recording scenario is sorted out. 

"If there's a personal imprint I put on the show it's the songs that get chosen, not so much the way we do it," he explains. "We try to do them faithfully to the original intent and the original style of playing. I think they're melodies you hear one time and immediately can't forget them. I think you've got to keep these songs alive by playing them; the stuff just dies if it's left to recordings alone."

Six years have elapsed since Tyrese, Ginuwine and Tank conceived the idea of teaming up as TGT. But the R&B supergroup isn't wasting any more time.

This week, TGT announced its Atlantic debut album, "3 Kings," will arrive at retail on Aug. 20. In fact, the trio has already hit the road with its "3 Kings" Tour. Kicking off June 26 in Oakland, Calif. with recent shows at Hampton, Virginia's Jazz Festival, New York City's "Groovin' in the Park" festival, as well as stops in Miami (July 4), Atlanta (July 6) and the Essence Music Festival in New Orleans (July 7), the tour wraps Aug. 4 in Atlanta.

Also announced recently was TGT's new single, "I Need." The romantic ballad is the follow-up to the trio's seductive lead single "Sex Never Felt Better," which peaked at No. 13 on Adult R&B. Featuring collaborations with such producers and songwriters as the Underdogs, Lonny Bereal, Ivan Barias and Carvin Haggins and Tim & Bob, the 15-track set artfully melds classic and contemporary R&B — both sonically and production-wise. Tying a ribbon around the soul-oozing package: the combustible chemistry of the voices behind such solo hits as "How You Gonna Act Like That," "Differences" and "Maybe I Deserve."

It's all part and parcel of the trio's quest: to bring back true R&B. "We want to get R&B back in a place where it's heard by everybody and not just older grown folks," says Tank during an often uproarious interview with TGT recently at Billboard's Los Angeles office. "We want to inspire the younger generation the way New Edition, R. Kelly, Guy and others inspired us."



It was Tank who came up with the "3 Kings" album moniker. "Tyrese wanted to call it 'TGT: Ignited,' says Tank in an overdramatic voice, drawing laughter from Ginuwine and Tyrese.

"That's because what we do ignites bedrooms," declares Tyrese. "But seriously, I feel this is the culmination of three great careers. We've put in the work. And that's what you'll hear on this album and see on this tour."

Friends for nearly 10 years, the three crooners initially whetted fans' appetite for their pairing in 2007 with a remix of Tank's single "Please Don't Go." However, various contractual issues derailed momentum until last year when Atlantic signed the trio.

Conversations regarding the tone, style and direction for "3 Kings" began during boot camp sessions at Tyrese's home. Then recording segued over to the Underdogs' studio, where the three singers were all physically on hand to collaborate and record with the writers and producers.

Besides, "Sex..." and "I Need," the album's other standout tracks include the Tank-penned "Explode" and "Weekend Love." Rapper Problem is the set's only featured guest on the track "Ain't No Fun."

TGT has a deal for a second album. But Ginuwine, the self-described "quiet one" of the group, says the members are "using this platform to promote our solo careers as well. So maybe sometime in 2015," fans can expect the next TGT album.

"At the end of the day, R&B is what we know," adds Tyrese who says the next installment in the successful "Fast & Furious" film franchise will begin production soon. "So we're looking to be around for 20-40 more years, inspiring people to enjoy this music all over again. True R&B is never going to get old."