B.B. King was laid to rest today (30.05.15) in his hometown of Indianola, Mississippi.
B.B. King
The blues musician died aged 89 on 14 May in Las Vegas, where he lived, and a private viewing and invitation-only memorial service was held there before his body was moved back to Mississippi for a service held at Bell Grove Missionary Baptist Church, which is just off B.B. King Road, per the singer's request.
Around 500 people were in the church for the service which honoured King's life, including his longtime personal assistant Myron Johnson, who told stories of his first meetings with the 'Rock Me Baby' hitmaker - when the musician told him he could call him whatever he wanted, so long as he didn't call him 'Pops' - to his last evening with the legend, according to the Chicago Tribune.
During the ceremony, letters from Bill Clinton and President Barack Obama were read aloud by Mississippi Congressman Bennie Thompson.
The president described King as an inspiration to all new artists.
He wrote: "There's going to be one killer blues session in heaven tonight."
The mayor of Indianola then later proclaimed 30 May as an official day of remembrance and honour for the deceased guitar player, and King was then carried out to the choir singing, before being laid to rest.
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