WREG.com

B.B. King to be buried in Mississippi

LAS VEGAS — Blues legend B.B. King will be buried in Mississippi, but a public viewing and a private service for family members will be held in Las Vegas before his body is sent home.

King died Thursday at home in Las Vegas at age 89.

His business agent, LaVerne Toney, said the viewing will be held from 3 to 7 p.m. Friday at Palm Mortuary West.

Mortuary manager Matthew Phillips said there won’t be a memorial service during viewing, but people will be able see King’s open casket.

Toney and Phillips said a private family funeral will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at a larger Palm Mortuary chapel in downtown Las Vegas.

Toney said she’s still making arrangements for a funeral and burial next week in Indianola, Mississippi.

King sold millions of records worldwide.

He was inducted into the Blues Foundation Hall of Fame in 1984, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1987 and received the Songwriters Hall of Fame Lifetime Achievement Award in 1990.

He received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President George W. Bush, gave a guitar to Pope John Paul II and had President Barack Obama sing along to his “Sweet Home Chicago.”

Mr. Obama was among those who paid tribute to King last week.

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