The Legendary BB King “The King of Blues” Will Be Missed

AP- King of Blues guitarist/songwriter BB King passed away peacefully in his sleep at 9:40 pm PT on May 14 2015 at his home in Las Vegas.

There will be a public viewing on Friday May 22, 2015 from 3pm – 7pm. at the Palm Mortuary West, 1600 South Jones Blvd., Las Vegas, NV

Fans of B.B. King remembered the legendary blues guitarist outside his namesake club and grill in Times Square Friday.

King was born Riley B. King in 1925 and got his first guitar at age 12. In his teens, he started developing his trademark guitar style. King picked up the nickname Beale Street Blues Boy in Memphis.

That was later shortened to Blues Boy, and then just B.B. King. He started making a name for himself in the 1950s with hits like “Three O’clock Blues” and “You Upset Me Baby.”

In 1969, he recorded “The Thrill is Gone,” which won him the first of 15 Grammys.

King played a Gibson guitar he named Lucille and kept up a busy touring schedule into his 80s.

King was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1987, and was honored with the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2006. The club in Times Square is one of several across the country to bear the musician’s name.

B.B. King was 89 years old. Among those praising the blues legend upon his passing is President Barack Obama.