Legendary bluesman, B.B. King died at age 89 on Thursday. Many of our reality stars have tweeted condolences, which I’ve posted below.
American Idol season 11 alum, Elise Testone fondly recalls sharing a stage with him. Season 9 runner-up, Crystal Bowersox and B.B. had more in common than just music. Both lived with diabetes and had teamed up to advertise a product that measures blood sugar.
Read the New York Time obituary.
B. B. King, whose world-weary voice and wailing guitar lifted him from the cotton fields of Mississippi to a global stage and the apex of American blues, died on Thursday at his home in Las Vegas. He was 89.
His death was reported on his website, which said he died in his sleep. Mr. King, who was in hospice care, had been performing until October 2014, when he canceled a tour, citing dehydration and exhaustion stemming from diabetes.
Mr. King married country blues to big-city rhythms and created a sound instantly recognizable to millions: a stinging guitar with a shimmering vibrato, notes that coiled and leapt like an animal, and a voice that groaned and bent with the weight of lust, longing and lost love.
“I wanted to connect my guitar to human emotions,” Mr. King said in his autobiography, “Blues All Around Me” (1996), written with David Ritz.
We will miss this legend #BBKing pic.twitter.com/lEO8ta0cJM
— The Swon Brothers (@TheSwonBrothers) May 15, 2015
The thrill is gone. Live at the Apollo Theater is one of the greatest rep. of soulful falsetto there is in the universe.#BBKingRIP
— Taylor Hicks (@TaylorHicks) May 15, 2015
RIP BB King ! Your incredible voice and music will live on forever !
— Caleb Perry Johnson (@CalebJohnson) May 15, 2015
We’ve lost the father of blues today. We celebrate what BB has passed down and acknowledge that because of him, the blues will never die.
— Clark Beckham (@ClarkBeckham) May 15, 2015
The thrill is gone. Live at the Apollo Theater is one of the greatest rep. of soulful falsetto there is in the universe.#BBKingRIP
— Taylor Hicks (@TaylorHicks) May 15, 2015
I bet they are having a killer welcoming party for BB King up in Heaven right now!
— Siobhan E. Magnus (@SiobhanMagnusAI) May 15, 2015
#BBKing. Legend. Inspiration. Music speaks to all.
— JAX (@Jax) May 15, 2015
Man, RIP BB King. So grateful I got to see him play in person. Prayers for the family. What a career, man.
— Alex Preston (@RealAlexPreston) May 15, 2015
Rest in peace, BB King. Too many amazing artists are passing away lately… #BBKing
— Jessica Meuse (@JessMeuse) May 15, 2015
“Blues is a tonic for whatever ails you.”- BBKing …We lost a legend today. You and Lucille were magic. #RIPBBKing pic.twitter.com/OG99Szadrr
— Chris Richardson (@ImChrisRich) May 15, 2015
Sad to hear that the Master of Blues, B.B. King, passed away this morning. What a life. What a… https://t.co/H0eiyYtkRf
— Melinda Doolittle (@mdoolittle) May 15, 2015
R.I.P. BB King. We love you. I’m so happy to have shared the stage w you & for our sweet conversation. Love always. pic.twitter.com/EXSPslUCGb
— Elise Testone (@ETestoneAI11) May 15, 2015
I woke up this morning to news that makes me sad. BB King is one of the most important musical artist… https://t.co/0ZCKQn0kzG
— Ruben Studdard (@RubenStuddard) May 15, 2015
Just read the news about BB King. Very very sad. His music will live on forever. #RIPBBKing
— Phillip Phillips (@Phillips) May 15, 2015
When I heard B.B. King for the first time he was singing The Thrill Is Gone. The way he played & sang brought tears to my eyes. #RIPBBKing
— Kelly Clarkson (@kelly_clarkson) May 15, 2015
Awe man!..the thrill is REALLY gone now!.. #RIPBBKing 2 of my favorite BB King tunes: “Sweet Sixteen” & ” Paying the cost to be the boss”
— Elliott Yamin (@elliottyamin) May 15, 2015
RIP BB. Thank you for the music and inspiration.
— Casey James (@caseyjames) May 15, 2015
A KING for sure! #RIP #BBKING ???????? https://t.co/bXNO6DnSPS
— Trenyce (@trenyce) May 15, 2015
Rest in peace BB King. What a legacy he left. You will forever be the king of blues. #KingOfTheBlues #RIPBBKing
— Katie Stevens (@thekatiestevens) May 15, 2015
R.i.P Mr King.
— Joshua Ledet (@joshledet) May 15, 2015
BB King.I was playing the blues today. Hit that sweet spot & thought of you. Just heard the news you’re playing the big gig in the sky RIP
— James Durbin (@DurbinRock) May 15, 2015
In the middle of @JamesBayMusic ripping a guitar solo & @drh3 tells me B.B. King just passed away. What a legend. #kingoftheblues #legend
— Blake Lewis (@BlakeLewis) May 15, 2015
BB King & Bobby Blue Bland – The thrill is gone – 1977
