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Blues Legend B.B. King Hospitalised But Is Doing “Much Better”

Legendary blues musician B.B. King has been taken to hospital near his Las Vegas home.

King’s daughter Claudette has confirmed to the LA Times that her father was taken to hospital and was suffering from dehydration caused by his Type II diabetes. She also added that he is doing “much better.”

The 89-year-old musician has lived with Type II diabetes for more than 20 years. Reports the Times, last year King fell sick during a show at Chicago’s House of Blues and was diagnosed at the time with dehydration and exhaustion. He then cancelled the eight remaining shows of his tour.

That followed a shakey and erratic April 2014 show in St Louis, Missouri, after which the Blues legend was forced to issue an apology for the reportedly sub-standard performance. “The combination of the rigours of the very long drive and high blood sugar due to his medication error resulted in a performance that did not match Mr. King’s usual standard of excellence,” a statement from King’s representatives said at the time.

Having begun his recording career in the 1940s, B.B. King has released more than 50 albums and, according to Rolling Stone, still plays more than 100 shows a year. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1987.

No further statement has been provided about B.B. King’s current state of health.

Watch: B. B. King – The Thrill Is Gone (Live at Montreux 1993)

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