“The World’s Greatest Blues Singer,” B.B. King, passed away Thursday night (May 14) at the age of 89 in Las Vegas, Nev. The “Sweet Little Angel” musician was reportedly in a home care hospice for some time due to dehydration, his daughter Patty King stated. King also suffered from Type II diabetes.
The highly-decorated guitarist laid a blueprint for many artists to follow within the genre and throughout the music industry. He’s received countless accolades for his contributions to music including the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, Presidential Medal of Freedom and garnered his first Grammy for Best R&B Vocal Performance Male for the stellar track “The Thrill Is Gone” in 1970. He would later go on to win 15 more gramophones.
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
God bless BB King peace and love to his family Ringo and Barbarax✌️
— Ringo Starr (@ringostarrmusic) May 15, 2015
VIBE’s thoughts and prayers go out to B.B. King’s family and friends.
Photo Credit: Getty Images