legendary guitarist and blues singer B.B. King dies at the age of 89 in Las Vegas

The entire music world is saddened by the passing of blues great B.B. King in his home in Las Vegas. He was 89 years old.

Born Riley B. King on September 16, 1925 in Berclair, Mississippi, King bought his first guitar at the tender age of 12 and began playing the guitar professionally with the famed St. John’s Quartet at churches by 18. Six years later, B.B. cut his first record with LA-based RPM Records and the rest is history.

King is the winner of over 15 Grammy Awards, including a Grammy Lifetime Achievement almost 30 years ago(1987) and the Presidential Medal Of Freedom given to him by George W. Bush. There is an annual festival held in his honor in Indianola, Mississippi as well as the “Mississippi Blues Trail”, which commemorates his birthplace.

Known as one of the architects of modern music and one of the greatest guitarists ever, the world will miss Mr. B.B. King.

-Sha Be Allah(@KingPenStatus)