The thrill is gone.
Blues legend BB King, born Riley B. King, a larger than life figure whose unparalleled career spanned seven decades, died in his sleep yesterday in Las Vegas at the age of 89. The Mississippi-born musician was known as one of the greatest guitarists of all time, influenced generations of musicians.
King had been suffering ill health in recent months, and was recently hospitalized with a diabetes-related illness and treated in hospice care.
More from CNN:
The Mississippi native’s reign as “king of the blues” lasted more than six decades and straddled two centuries, influencing a generation of rock and blues musicians, from Eric Clapton and Stevie Ray Vaughan, to Sheryl Crow and John Mayer.
His life was the subject of the documentary “B.B. King: The Life of Riley,” and the inspiration for the The B.B. King Museum and Delta Interpretive Center, which opened in 2008.
King’s enduring legacy came from his refusal to slow down even after cementing his status as an American music icon.
Even with a long list of honors to his name — Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction, Presidential Medal of Freedom — he maintained a relentless touring schedule well into his 80s.
This morning, online tributes started to pour in, from Lenny Kravitz and Ringo Starr to the Temper Trap and Icona Pop…
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
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
HITMAKER BLUESMAN LEGEND ..RILEY 'BB" KING IS GONE .BUT THE THRILL LIVES ON.. .R.I.P "BB" 1925-2015 ..PEACE AND… http://t.co/l9V1MS6Yuv
— Wu Tang Clan (@WuTangClan) May 15, 2015
R.I.P Mr BB pic.twitter.com/sljEeLgsmm
— Chuck D (@MrChuckD) May 15, 2015
BB King a dear friend and inspiration to me….
Posted by Eric Clapton on Friday, May 15, 2015
Sad day for music. Vale BB King. One of the true legends.
— The Temper Trap (@thetempertrap) May 15, 2015
RIP B.B. King 🙁 your music will never die! One of the first guitarists I learned about as a kid! #BBKing JBx pic.twitter.com/DqxfXchYwC
— PulledApartByHorses (@PulledHorses) May 15, 2015
R.i.P BB King
— Icona Pop (@iconapop) May 15, 2015
So sad to wake up this morning and hear the news about the passing of the great B B King.
— Joe Perry (@JoePerry) May 15, 2015