Bluesman B.B. King hospitalized in Texas; hospital official says condition good

Blues guitarist B.B. King was hospitalized in Texas for undisclosed reasons but was in good condition early Friday, a hospital official said.

Photo: Bluesman B.B. King hospitalized in Texas; hospital official says condition good

The 81-year-old bluesman had been scheduled to perform at the Grand Opera House in Galveston on Thursday night when he was admitted to The University of Texas Medical Branch there, said Paul McCarthy, a nurse administrator.

McCarthy said King was not in the intensive care unit and that he could be released later Friday or Saturday.

A message left with King's management agency, Lieberman Management LLC of New York, was not immediately returned early Friday, reports AP. 

With his trademark guitar that he named "Lucille," King racked up hits including "The Thrill is Gone," "Every Day I Have the Blues" and "You Upset me Baby."

Born on a plantation in Itta Bena, Mississippi, King started out on street corners playing for pocket change, according to his Web site. He went on to become one of the nation's most influential blues musicians.

In December, U.S. President George W. Bush awarded King the Presidential Medal of Freedom for his musical contributions.