Blues Legend B.B. King Dies at 89
Blues legend B.B. King died in Las Vegas on Thursday at the age of 89, according to his daughter Patty King.
The Mississippi native, who was diagnosed with diabetes 30 years ago, was hospitalized last month due to dehydration. In October, he was forced to cancel eight tour dates because of dehydration and exhaustion.
Known as “King of the Blues,” his career spanned over six decades, sold millions of records, and influenced a younger generation of rock and blues musicians.
Throughout the years, King won 15 Grammys, including his most recent for his 2009 album One Kind Favor, and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1987.
The music industry took to social media to pay their respects to the blues icon.
BB, anyone could play a thousand notes and never say what you said in one. #RIP #BBKing pic.twitter.com/YvZYH8hyJE
— Lenny Kravitz (@LennyKravitz) May 15, 2015
#RIPBBKing You mean more to Memphis than words can say… #LegendOfBealeSt #KingOfTheBlues
— Justin Timberlake (@jtimberlake) May 15, 2015
Losing you is like losing MAGIC! Whoa… My sweet BBKing. I listened to more BB King than any other… https://t.co/30cJNDgZco
— Melody Thornton (@MelodyThornton) May 15, 2015
Rest in Peace Mr.King. My grandmother looked after you in Lexington,Ms as a little boy. You were… https://t.co/1KbHZza930
— K. Michelle (@kmichelle) May 15, 2015