Blues legend B.B. King has died in Las Vegas at age 89, his lawyer confirmed on Thursday.
Attorney Brent Bryson said King died peacefully in his sleep at 9:40 p.m. PDT at his Clark County, Nevad home in Las Vegas.
King,
widely regarded as 'King Of Blues', sold millions of records worldwide,
won 15 Grammy Awards and was inducted into the Blues Foundation Hall of
Fame in 1980 and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1987.
The King Of Blues BB King has died at the age of 89 in Las Vegas
BB,
whose real name was Riley B. King, was admitted to hospital last month
for diabetes-related ailments, but was discharged when he insisted on
at-home hospice care as opposed to hospitalisation.
Speaking at
the start of May, King's business manager Laverne Toney said: 'Mr. King
is where he wishes to be,' Toney said. 'He's always told me he doesn't
want to be in a hospital. He wants to be at home.'
Meanwhile, a message on his Official Facebook
page said: 'A Message From B,B, "I am in home hospice care at my
residence in Las Vegas. Thanks to all for your well wishes and
prayers."'
Peaceful: The musician, seen
performing in Pennsylvania in July 2010, is said to have passed away
peacefully in his sleep at his home
Influential: King, pictured here in February 2014, was known to be a mentor to scores of guitarists including Eric Clapton
Longevity: King (pictured in Tennessee
in 1948) was one of the most robust in the music industry, once playing
342 shows in a single year
Feud: The blues legend, seen here in
the early 70s, sold millions of records worldwide and was inducted into
the Blues Foundation Hall of Fame and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
Inspiration: Millions flocked to see BB King perform over his incredible seven-decade career
The blues guitarist - a father of 11 - was treated at the hospital for complications of high blood pressure and diabetes, The Telegraph reports, though King was diagnosed with Type II diabetes over 25 years ago.
King's
father Albert King died aged 87 and was known to suffer from high blood
glucose and gout, while his mother Nora Ella Farr died when King was
aged nine, going blind from diabetes before her death.
Musician
B.B, was forced to cancel eight dates on his US tour in October 2014
when he fell on stage and was rushed off for exhaustion and dehydration.
A
statement explaining the incident read: 'The combination of the rigors
of the very long drive and high blood sugar due to his medication error
resulted in a performance that did not match Mr. King's usual standard
of excellence.'
Another
statement from the crooner on his website said: 'I'm back at home now
listening to music, watching movies and enjoying some down time,'
'I
think I'm busier at home now than on the road talking to friends
calling to check up on me. I do appreciate everyone's calls and concern.
I want to tell you, I'm doing alright.'
King
later took to his Facebook page again to reassure fans, saying: 'A
Message from B.B. "I want to thank everyone for their concern and good
wishes. I'm feeling much better & am leaving the hospital today."'
Singing it out: King pictured in 1960 in the recording studio
Ground-breaking: B.B. King was
pictured raising money for radio station WDIA's Wheelin' On Beale March
of Dimes charity for pregnancy and baby health in Memphis, Tennessee in
1955
A week later he wrote: 'A Message from B.B. "I've been back home for a little over a week now and am feeling better."'
The
one-time farmhand brought new fans to the blues and influenced a
generation of musicians with his heartfelt vocals and soaring guitar on
songs such as The Thrill Is Gone.
King
played a Gibson guitar that he affectionately called Lucille and was
recognised as a mentor to scores of guitarists including Eric Clapton.
Clapton honoured King during an interview with The Times
in 2005, in which he said: 'B.B. King taps into something universal. He
can't be confined to any one genre. That's why I've called him a
‘global musician.'
King was born Riley B. King in 1925 in Mississippi, Tennessee, where he was inspired to take up guitar a pastor in his church.
Highly regarded: The legendary
musician was invited to play at the White House: Red, White and Bluesø
concert in the East Room of the White House in February 2012, where
President Obama joined him in singing Sweet Home Chicago
Strong until the end: BB continued to tour until as late as 2014, when he was forced to cancel some shows due to exhaustion
The
self-taught guitarist entered the industry as a disc jokey after
serving in World War II and released his first single 3 O'Clock Blues in
1949.
He
was named BB after being nicknamed 'Beale Street Blues Boy' and called
each of his guitars 'Lucille' after witnessing two men fight over a
woman of the same name.
Guitarist BB was married twice - both of which ended by the mid-1960s - and succeeded 11 living children and 50 grandchildren.
His first marriage to Martha Lee Denton lasted for six years and ended in 1952.
While his second wife Sue Carol Hall came along in 1958 but ended in separation again in 1966.
He was awarded his 15th Grammy in 2009 in the traditional blues album category for One Kind Favor.
His battle with illness has been a long one, though he continued to tour until late 2014.
King's
daughter Patty King recently claimed the blues legend's long time
handler Laverne Toney refused to let her take him to hospital after he'd
suffered a heart attack.
According to TMZ,
there is an ongoing battle between Patty and Toney. Patty reportedly
became worried when her father wouldn't eat and his urine turned orange,
and decided to take him to hospital
But when Toney - who had the power of attorney over the guitarist - refused, his daughter called the police.
Responding officers concurred that he needed medical attention and summoned paramedics, who then brought him to hospital.
It was then doctors diagnosed he had had a mild heart attack.
Patty
and her boyfriend have already accused Toney of elder abuse, as well as
burglary. In November they filed a police report accusing her of
fleecing up to $30million and several items of jewelry from the 15-time
Grammy winner, as well as withholding his medication.
While police investigated the accusations, no charges were filed against her.
The
musician was known as one of the most robust in the industry, playing
as many as 300 shows per year throughout his long career.
Lasting influence: The King Of Blues will forever be remembered for the indelible mark he made on music
Soul: King's career, pictured here
during one of his early sessions, saw him recognised with 15 Grammy
Awards, a museum and various inductions into music halls of fame
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