B.B King: Blues Legend passes on at 89

In early May, King announced on his personal website that he had entered hospice care in his home after having to be hospitalized twice for high blood pressure and his long battle with diabetes.
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B.B King

 (Getty Images)
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An exclusive picture of the ailing music legend, B.B King

 (TMZ)

Music icon, B.B. King has died at age 89

The Blue legend passed away in his sleep on Thursday night, May 14 at his Las Vegas home.

In early May, King announced on his personal website that he had entered hospice care in his home after having to be hospitalized twice for high blood pressure and his long battle with diabetes.

King was long considered one of the greatest musicians of all time, and his name, his music and his legacy have been synonymous with the blues genre for decades.

King released his first album, Singin’ the Blues, in 1957, and ended up releasing 43 studio albums and 16 live albums, with 138 singles released in total.

The celebrated singer, who was known for playing hundreds of shows a year well into his 70s, was inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame in 1980, and in 1987 he was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.

The legend won his first GRAMMY in 1971 for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance for his version of the song “The Thrill Is Gone.” In 2009, he took home his last GRAMMY for Best Traditional Blues Album for One Kind Favor.