Plan B Forum

This heartfelt letter B.B. King wrote 25 years ago is even more poignant after his death

Updated by Margarita Noriega on May 15, 2015, 7:40 a.m. ET @margarita margarita@vox.com
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B.B. King performs on stage during the 2013 Crossroads Guitar Festival at Madison Square Garden on April 12, 2013, in New York City. (Photo by Larry Busacca/Getty Images) Larry Busacca/Getty Images
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B.B. King passed away at 89 years old. With his iconic Gibson guitar, King played some of the best-known blues songs ever written, including "The Thrill Is Gone," "Every Day I Have the Blues," and "Sweet Little Angel." Over the many decades of his career, King came to be hugely respected by several generations of blues, R&B, and rock musicians.

Before his death, King posted a note for fans on his official site, informing them he was in hospice: "I am in home hospice care at my residence in Las Vegas. Thanks to all for your well wishes and prayers."

Twenty-five years earlier, King sent another note, to "a very special lady" named "Mrs. Ann Taylor," which Letters of Note posted to Twitter shortly after his death. In it, King wrote in a letter his gratefulness for Mrs. Taylor's concern after a trip to the hospital:

I think there are many People, and especially entertainer's, never got to know that they have so many friend's, and fan's, while they are a live, usually after death there are beautiful thing's said about them, but thank's to You, I have a chance to smell those beautiful flowers of concern while I am still alive... I sure hope that as I live in the future, that I will always be worthy of Your kind concern and friendship. [sic]

Letter, B.B. King, 1990

Letter, B.B. King, 1990, via Letters of Note.