B.B. King: The Thrill is Gone

Tributes are pouring in for the blues legend B.B King. The 89-year-old, who inspired generations of musicians, has died at his home in Las Vegas. Born Riley Ben King, he was nicknamed King of the Blues and had a career that spanned almost 70 years. He was a 15-time Grammy winner and recorded more than 50 albums, performing well into his 80s. King was credited with taking his music to the mainstream, and his unique guitar playing was imitated around the world. He played and toured with a Gibson guitar that he nicknamed Lucille. His many hits included The Thrill is Gone, Let the Good Times Roll, When Love Comes to Town, Three O’Clock Blues, Sweet Sixteen, Don’t Answer the Door and Rock Me Baby. In a TV interview in 2005 King said: “I think the people – God and the people – have been good to me through the years at the age I am now. “ I like to do what I’m doing and will do it for nothing if somebody will pay my bills, but they’re paying me for something I like to do anyway, which I love.” Eric Clapton was one of the many famous performers who made an online tribute. (function(d, s, id) { var js, fjs = d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0]; if (d.getElementById(id)) return; js = d.createElement(s); js.id = id; js.src = “//connect.facebook.net/en_US/sdk.js#xfbml=1&version=v2.3”; fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js, fjs);}(document, ‘script’, ‘facebook-jssdk’));BB King a dear friend and inspiration to me….Posted by Eric Clapton on Friday, May 15, 2015 BB, anyone could play a thousand notes and never say what you said in one. #RIP #BBKing pic.twitter.com/YvZYH8hyJE— Lenny Kravitz (@LennyKravitz) May 15, 2015 God bless BB King peace and love to his family Ringo and Barbarax✌️— Ringo Starr (@ringostarrmusic) May 15, 2015 My friend and ledgend BB King passed.. I’m so so sad….he was so great to me… We’ve lost the King….. My love and prayers to his family.— RICHIE SAMBORA (@TheRealSambora) May 15, 2015 RIP BB King, one of the best blues guitarists ever, maybe the best. He could do more on one note than anyone. #respect— Bryan Adams (@bryanadams) May 15, 2015 Sad News, Goodbye to the great BB King https://t.co/MIDv8wEkXX— David Morrissey (@davemorrissey64) May 15, 2015 Hoy la música está triste por el fallecimiento de #BBKing Os dejo con este video en homenaje. http://t.co/Y1RnuC7SFV— David Bisbal (davidbisbal) May 15, 2015 #BBKing, from cotton fields and work songs to Grammy awards, a fighting and joyful life. Today who has the blues? The thrill is gone… ChT— Christiane Taubira (ChTaubira) May 15, 2015