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B.B. King has died.

The music legend passed away at his home in Las Vegas yesterday, at the age of 89. Attorney Brent Bryson told The Associated Press that King died peacefully in his sleep. He also revealed the singer had been receiving hospice care.
King exploded on to the music scene in the 50s, and released debut album Singin' The Blues in 1957 which spawned five charting singles.

He won his first Grammy Award in 1971, bagging Best Male R&B Vocal Performance. He went on to win another 14 of the prestigious music awards and was last honoured at the ceremony in 2009 for Best Traditional Blues Album.

On top of that he was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Grammy in 1987, as well as a Grammy Hall of Fame Award in 1998.

He was also inducted into both the Blues Foundation Hall of Fame and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

The blues star performed well into his 80s, but suffered with diabetes. His health had been in decline for the past year.

He was twice married and had fathered 15 biological and adopted children. Family members say 11 survive, reports Fox News.

Over his decades in music King had collaborated with everyone, from Eric Clapton to U2.

Stars have taken to Twitter to pay their respects.

"God bless BB King peace and love to his family Ringo and Barbarax (sic)," Ringo Starr posted.

"Very sad. BB KING: Rest In Peace.. (sic)," tweeted Gene Simmons.

"Sad to hear B.B. King has left us. I loved collaborating with him, loved his music, & his spirit. He changed music forever. God bless him (sic)," Brad Paisley shared with fans.

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A huge loss for our culture. A whole generation of talented artists is dying off and we are left with a washed-up mainstream garbage.

Originally Posted by Mokoshotar

A huge loss for our culture. A whole generation of talented artists is dying off and we are left with a washed-up mainstream garbage.

He was indeed a very good musician, but you could call him mainstream too ....
Many more other bluesmen never had the publicity he was enjoying

Originally Posted by RossoBreitner

He was indeed a very good musician, but you could call him mainstream too ....
Many more other bluesmen never had the publicity he was enjoying

Talented artists like him are rare. He was indeed popular however you are right. His death might inspire other bluesmen to pursue this dying genre, its definitely worth it.

Originally Posted by Mokoshotar

Talented artists like him are rare.

I seriously doubt that. He was just one of a lot of talented bluesmen. The majority of those, never had the chance to address to bigger audiences.
Or they did not want to do so, because that mean that they should make their music sound more lighter, more mainstream, so to be accepted by masses.
BB King did everything he could to promote and achieve a career.

I would strongly suggest movie Le blues entre les dents (1973) where any blues fan has the opportunity to enjoy BB King, but also many more less known and more talented bluesmen.

Indeed. The greatest talents never make it that far. B.B King was an outstanding musician, and he was more or less "chosen" for the fame. It is no secret that a man has to go through a lot and completely abandon his pride and dignity to reach the peak of music industry. He depends on many factors, and must be willing to sell himself to gain popularity. B.B King doesn't seem to be that way however.