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Goodbye B.B. King! Here are 20 Amazing Portraits of King from between the 1940s and 1970s

One of the most celebrated figures in the world of music, blues master B.B. King, died in Las Vegas on Thursday at the age of 89, according to the Associated Press, citing King's lawyer.

Rolling Stone ranked King number 6 on its 2011 list of the 100 greatest guitarists of all time. He was ranked No. 17 in Gibson's "Top 50 Guitarists of All Time". King was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1987. He is considered one of the most influential blues musicians of all time, earning the nickname "The King of the Blues", and one of the "Three Kings of the Blues Guitar".

Blues musician B.B. King performs on the radio station WDIA in 1948 in Memphis, Tennessee.

Young blues singer B.B. King a local DJ at WDIA poses for a portrait circa 1948 in Memphis, Tennessee.

King with band leader Johnny Otis circa 1952.

B.B. King was pictured raising money for radio station WDIA's Wheelin' On Beale March of Dimes charity for pregnancy and baby health in Memphis, Tennessee in 1955.

B.B. King poses for a studio portrait in 1955 in the United States. He holds a Fender Esquire guitar.