Arguably one of the most important musical figures of the 20th century, blues legend B.B. King died last night in Las Vegas at the age of 89. In early October, the tireless bluesman, who in 1956 had performed an astonishing 342 times, was forced to cancel the remainder of his 2014 tour when he fell ill following a performance at the House of Blues in Chicago, and just two weeks ago he entered home hospice care. The“King of the Blues” had lived with type 2 diabetes for more than 20 years and during that time frequently used his celebrity to raise awareness about the disease that took the lives of both his mother and one of his daughters. Though he is survived by two ex-wives, 15 children and some 50 grandchildren, it is his distinctive, lyrical guitar playing and his unique blend of the blues with other musical styles that are his greatest legacy. Read more on Biography.com