Entertainment

B.B. King's Life In Photos, A Small Snapshot Of The Blues Musician's Legendary Career

The "King of Blues" has sadly passed away. According to his lawyer, King died peacefully in his sleep at his Las Vegas home Thursday evening, sparking worldwide mourning for the legendary blues musician. His music speaks for itself, but photos of King's life shows just how far his career took him and how much people loved to hear him and his guitar wail. He was 89.

King had a long career, recording his first songs in 1949, and he continued to turn out new music even well into his 80s. One of the greatest guitarists of all time, King had a number of chart-topping hits, most notably his 1969 cover of "The Thrill Is Gone." The song was awarded the Grammy Hall of Fame Award, which is designated for recordings of qualitative or historical significance."

He's won more than a dozen Grammy Awards — 15, to be exact, with his most recent in 2009 for his final studio album One Kind Favor. He also won a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 1987. Among his many other accomplishments, King was an inductee of both the Blues Hall of Fame and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. He was awarded the Kennedy Center Honors in 1995 as well as the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2006. A true blues musician, King will be missed.

by Melissah Yang

Nice Jazz Festival, July 1985

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Palais Des Sports In Paris, June 28, 1988

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The National Medal of Arts, 1990

The award was presented by President George H. W. Bush and Barbara Bush.

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China, May 14, 1994

B.B. King stopped by the Great Wall during a tour in China.

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Tuzla, Ghana, July 26, 1996

B.B. King performs for 1,500 troops of Task Force Eagle during his European tour.

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1997 Grammy Awards Nominations Ceremony

From left to right, Jewel, B.B. King, Busta Rhymes, Steven Curtis Chapman. Also pictured, an ecstatic 11-year-old Alexandra Nechita, who was the artist of the year’s Grammy poster.

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Grammy Awards, Feb. 24, 1999

B.B. King performs with Eric Clapton at the 41st Grammy Awards in Los Angeles.

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Grammy Awards, 2000

B.B. King with Tony Bennett, holding their Grammy Awards.

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House Of Blues In Las Vegas, Feb. 17, 2002

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80th Birthday, Sept. 20, 2005

B.B. King performs onstage for his 80th birthday in Encino, California.

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Presidential Medal Of Freedom, 2006

President George W. Bush awards B.B. King the Presidential Medal of Freedom at the White House.

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Bonnaroo Music And Arts Festival, June 2008

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Grammy Nominations Concert, Dec. 3, 2008

Performing with John Mayer at the Nokia Theater in Los Angeles.

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Grammy Awards, Feb. 8, 2009

B.B. King wins Best Traditional Blues Album for his last studio album One Kind Favor. This would be his 15th and final Grammy win.

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