Blues legend B.B. King, inspiration to generations of musicians, dies at 89

"B. B. King taps into something universal," Eric Clapton told 'The Times' in 2005. "He can't be confined to any one genre. That's why I've called him a 'global musician."

A look back at the life of blues guitarist and singer B. B. King, who died peacefully in his sleep aged 89 in Las Vegas on Thursday. A former farmhand, King sold millions of records worldwide during his 70-year career. He recorded more than 50 albums and toured the world well into his 80s, often performing 250 or more concerts a year.

"B. B. King taps into something universal," Eric Clapton told The Times in 2005. "He can't be confined to any one genre. That's why I've called him a 'global musician."

The guitarist and singer B. B. King is the greatest living exponent of the blues and considered by many to be the most influential guitarist of the latter part of the 20th century.