B.B. King Has Died

Legendary blues guitarist B.B. King died yesterday at age 89 in Las Vegas, Nevada.  King announced two weeks ago that he was in home hospice care after suffering from dehydration.

King brought blues to the mainstream, and dominated the blues scene for six decades, influencing hundreds of artists from Eric Clapton and Stevie Ray Vaughan to Sheryl Crow and John Mayer.  And B.B. never rested on his laurels--even after establishing himself as a music icon, he continued to collaborate with other artists and perform well into his 80s.

King was a 15-time Grammy Award winner who was nominated 30 times.  He received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Grammy Awards, was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and also received a Presidential Medal of Freedom.