Best known for his down-home style and recognizable guitar skills, blues legend and songwriter B. B. King has died. He was 89.
Reports indicate King died in Las Vegas where family members say he was on home hospice care. Earlier this month, he had been hospitalized for complications from diabetes and high blood pressure.
“Mr. King passed peacefully in his sleep at 9:40 pm Pacific time May, 14 2015,” according to his website.
Known as the King of Blues, he was born Riley B. King in Itta Bena, Miss. on September 16, 1925. Getting his start in the gospel choir at his church, he bought his first guitar at the age of 12 for $15.
His skills would evolve into being one of the best-known singers with his trademark instrument he called “Lucille.”
King was considered the foremost authority on blues music and was well known for his skills on the guitar. Rolling Stone magazine ranked him No. 6 on its list of 100 greatest guitarist of all time.
Throughout his nearly 60-year career he recorded over 40 studio albums and received 15 Grammy Awards usually in the “Best Traditional Blues” category.
King was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1987 and received a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award that same year.