Blues legend and Mississippi born B.B. King (real name Riley B. King) passed away on Thursday in Las Vegas. He was 89-years-old. King was a larger-than-life singer, songwriter and guitarist who helped popularize electric blues and brought it to audiences for more than 60 years. King, who was diagnosed with diabetes nearly three decades ago, was hospitalized last month due to dehydration. He was forced to cancel eight tour dates last October because of issues with dehydration and exhaustion.
His lawyer, Brent Bryson, confirmed his death to the Associated Press. King toured the world year-round well into his late eighties, as the unrivaled ambassador of the blues. He won fifteen Grammy Awards and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1987. King was awarded the National Medal of Arts in 1990 by President George H.W. Bush. In 2006, he received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President George W. Bush. He is widely regarded as one of the most influential blues guitarists of all time, earning the nickname “The King of Blues,” and one of the “Three Kings of the Blues Guitar” (along with Albert King and Freddie King). He was married and divorced twice, and had fifteen biological and adopted children. According to family members, only eleven are still alive to this day.
