Blues legend B.B. King, whose crisp, powerful guitar licks made him among the instrument's greatest masters and a towering influence for generations of musicians, has died at 89. King until late last year, when his health declined, maintained a touring schedule that put much younger artists to shame. "The blues has lost its king, and America has lost a legend," said President Barack Obama, who recalled once being persuaded to sing "Sweet Home Chicago" at the White House with King. "There are not many left that play it in the pure way that B.B. did," said rock-blues guitarist Eric Clapton, who thanked King in a short video that was receiving nearly one million views an hour on Facebook.

Source: Yahoo Music
Link: Blues legend B.B. King, 89, mourned by music world