BB KING
Rodd Bland, son of Bobby "Blue" Bland, carries the iconic Gibson guitar named "Lucille" belonging to the late B.B. King during a procession down Beale Street in Memphis, Tennessee May 27, 2015. The Blues legend's hearse followed his guitar and a brass band of local musicians down Beale to Handy Park before his remains were to travel to their final resting place and funeral in Indianola, Mississippi later this week. Reuters/Mike Blake

Thousands of people gathered in the streets of Memphis, Tennessee on Wednesday to pay tribute to late blues artist B.B. King, who died earlier this month. A Dixieland jazz band, a band consisting of old jazz music of the 1900, walked ahead of a black hearse as thousands gathered to bid adieu to King on Beale Street- a street linked with American blues music, the Associated Press reports.

The processional farewell began just before 1 p.m. and stopped for sometime next to B.B. King's Blues Club before turning onto B.B.King Blues Highway. Drummer Rodd Bland — son of the late blues singer Bobby "Blue" Bland, held one of King' signature "Lucille" guitars and walked just ahead of the hearse.

The Memphis-based Mighty Souls Brass Band bid their last good bye to King by playing the song, “When the Saints Go Marching In.” Various other celebrities also offered tributes through music and words at nearby W.C. Handy Park. King died on 14 May at his Los Angeles home at the age of 89. He was in hospice care at his home.

Earlier this week, King's daughter's alleged that his aides "hastened his death" as none of the members of the family were allowed to see him one week before his death. King's daughters Karen Williams and Patty King alleged that their father was murdered by his aide LaVerne Toney and King's personal assistant, Myron Johnson. They demanded an autopsy on his body.

However, King's attorney Brent Bryson told People magazine that the daughters just want the money. DW cites AP and AFP as sources and write that police has dismissed the accusations by King's daughters. “With no questions left open, King's burial can take place as planned,” writes the website. King's body will be taken to his home town Indianola, Mississippi, where a funeral will be held on Saturday.

According to AP, the public viewing of King's body will held from 10 a.m.-5 p.m on May 29 at the B.B. King Museum and Delta Interpretive Center in Indianola. It will be followed by the funeral at 11 a.m. on May 30 at the nearby Bell Grove Missionary Baptist Church.

For any questions/comments on the article, you may contact the writer at: n.tewari@ibtimes.com.au

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