B.B. King died of a series of minor strokes traceable to his age-old struggle with type 2 diabetes, according to his physician and the coroner in Las Vegas.
The medical condition seen as the cause of death of the legendary blues musician is multi-infarct dementia, commonly known as vascular dementia, Clark County Coroner John Fudenberg and the musician's physician Dr. Darin Brimhall said.
Dr. Brimhall says King's strokes resulted from reduced blood flow to the brain as a consequence of chronic diabetes. Dementia is an irreversible loss of brain function that happens with certain known diseases, which includes diabetes. It commonly affects persons over 55 years old and can cause memory loss, judgment impairment, and thinking and language difficulties.
To celebrate King's legacy in the music industry, we have compiled these 10 songs, all of them hits during their time.
1. Blues Boys Tune
With over 20 million views, you cannot go wrong with B.B. King playing live guitar solo. This was one of the hit songs on his Blues on the Bayou album.
2. Rock Me Baby
Arguably one of the most interpreted blues songs of all time. He re-recorded the song with Eric Clapton for the album Deuces Wild.
3. The Thrill Is Gone (Live at Montreux 1993)
From the album Completely Well, this song has been interpreted by numerous artists since B.B. King’s version rose to fame.
4. How Blue Can You Get (Legends of Rock 'n' Roll)
This song was re-recorded and released as a single in 1964 under ABC Paramount Records.
5. Blues Man
Also included in the Blues on the Bayou album released in 1998, B.B. King plays "Blues Man" live in this video.
6. Key to the Highway
This song was included in his first collaborative album with Eric Clapton, Riding with the King, released in 2000.
7. Sinners Prayer
Ray Charles recorded a duet with B.B. King.
8. Happy Birthday Blues
This track was included in his Take It Home album released in 1979.
9. Why I Sing The Blues
Performed live in a concert in Africa, this song also appeared in the Live and Well album released in 1969.
10. Sweet Sixteen
This song was included in the album The Great B.B. King released in 1960.
You can also check out the official B.B. King website for more songs, albums and tracklistings. Long live B.B. King! The thrill will never be gone.
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Photo: Tom Beetz | Flickr
