Blues legend B.B. King dies at 89

Guitarist B.B. King, who took the blues from rural juke joints to the mainstream has died

Guitarist B.B. King, who took the blues from rural juke joints to the mainstream and influenced a generation of rock guitarists from Eric Clapton to Stevie Ray Vaughan, has died, he was 89.


B.B. King's fans and followers showed their grief on social media.

PHOTO: SKYNEWS

#BBKing has died :( sad day. Saw him live about 20 years ago. Amazing guitarist who could produce incredible sound: http://t.co/veBQ7EDwDA

— Andrew Trotman (@TechieTrotman) May 15, 2015

BREAKING: 'King of the Blues' legend B.B. King dead in Las Vegas at age 89, his attorney says.

— The Associated Press (@AP) May 15, 2015

'King of the Blues' legend B B King dies in Las Vegas aged 89, his lawyer says http://t.co/xSmhESGTMF

— BBC Breaking News (@BBCBreaking) May 15, 2015

So long Mr King... #bbking a true legend http://t.co/8WSqJWftwm pic.twitter.com/Bv9L2xwLnj

— Jack Savoretti (@JackSavoretti) May 15, 2015

#BBKing is gone. BB is gone away. You're free now BB...🎶😢 pic.twitter.com/Vm9GmEepNr

— Waimea (@Waenoni) May 15, 2015

https://twitter.com/DogwoodSlim/status/599096659654549504

An attorney for King, who will always be linked with the Gibson guitars he named Lucille, said he died in Las Vegas, reported USA Today.

King was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes in the 1980s. He was hospitalized in April for a few days after suffering from dehydration related to the disease. In May he said in a Facebook post that he was in hospice care at his home.

Heaven needs good music too 🙏🏾 #BBKing https://t.co/SCvvtDVcef

— K.C (@KimCesarion) May 15, 2015

#RIP #BBKing An American music legend and one of the most well dressed people on the planet. pic.twitter.com/GrKwtItVsw

— Preston Lacy (@PrestonLacy) May 15, 2015

We lost a LEGEND today. This one person has influenced more music in the world than anyone can fully realize. #BBKing http://t.co/eJrPZKKuoi

— Woodstock109 (@ggowers) May 15, 2015

https://twitter.com/SA_Rockdoll/status/599100543504621568

PHOTO: MYFOX8

PHOTO: MTV

RIP #BBKing. You're the King of Blues. Your music and legacy will live on forever. #RIPBBKing pic.twitter.com/XVXg8tBD1u

— The MJCast - A Michael Jackson Podcast (@TheMJCast) May 15, 2015

#RIP #BBKing. Your music will live forever....... pic.twitter.com/WrLpozCiay

— World Music Awards (@WORLDMUSICAWARD) May 15, 2015

PHOTO: BILLBOARD

PHOTO: JAPANTIMES

BB King has passed away. A true titan of the blues, a guitar legend & a powerfully expressive music maker. #bbking pic.twitter.com/oE5H0kpgNS

— Zia Records (@ZiaRecords) May 15, 2015

The Thrill is Gone, It's Gone away for good. And now that it's all over, All I can do is wish you well. RIP #BBKing pic.twitter.com/ZGTuRicx5l

— Ben de Pear (@bendepear) May 15, 2015

PHOTO: RAPPLER

King had a deep, resonant singing voice and, despite having what he called "stupid fingers," an immediately recognizable guitar sound.

His unique style of trilling the strings with a fluttering left-hand vibrato, which he called it "the butterfly," helped shape early rock. He delivered stinging single-note licks that brimmed with emotion and were copied by white rock guitarists including Jeff Beck and Bonnie Raitt.