Source: Photo by Larry Busacca / Getty
The King of the Blues, B.B. King passed away at the age of 89 in his Las Vegas home late Thursday night. According to his attorney Brent Bryson who released a statement to the Associated Press, King died at peace in his sleep at 9:40 p.m.
King is missed by his eldest surviving daughter, Shirley King who said that she was upset to have not seen her father before he died. The legendary musician battled with diabetes and his health had been declining during the past year.
Despite health conditions, the 15-time Grammy winner, continued to perform well into his 80s. There was a concert last October in Chicago where he had collapsed due to dehydration and exhaustion.
Riley B. King had an amazing career that spanned over nearly 70 years, releasing over 50 albums and often performing 250 or more concerts a year.
King definitely had his share of accolades as well as life defining moments. For example, the musician was inducted into the Blues Foundation Hall of Fame in 1984, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1987 and received the Songwriters Hall of Fame Lifetime Achievement Award in 1990. He also received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President George W. Bush, gave a guitar to Pope John Paul II and had current President Barack Obama sing along to his “Sweet Home Chicago.”
His talent has been admired by many which would make it no shock as to why he was a mentor to a variety of guitarists, who included Eric Clapton, Otis Rush, Buddy Guy, Jimi Hendrix, John Mayall and Keith Richards. B.B. King was taught to play the guitar by his preacher uncle and his original call-and-response style between him and Lucille will go unmatched forever
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