Mor B.B. King

He was a indefatigable musician who played more than 300 shows a year—even into his 80s.

B.B. King—the blues great who passed away at 89 on Thursday in Las Vegas—left behind an incredible body of work, which showed the Grammy-winning Rock and Roll Hall of Famer’s passionate dedication to the blues music he helped popularize.

Many of his timeless performances are available on YouTube. Below, a few of Entertainment Weekly’s favorites.

“Thrill Is Gone”
This blues standard—written by Roy Hawkins and Rick Darnell—has been recorded by dozens. But it’s B.B.’s version that endures—and also won him a Grammy in 1970. You can see why in this vintage clip, with King working up an intense sweat and unfurling some of his most melodic guitar licks on Lucille, his trusted musical weapon.

“Rock Me, Baby”
King is joined by Eric Clapton, Buddy Guy, and Jim Vaughn at Clapton’s annual Crossroads fest for a smoking rendition of “Rock Me Baby.” Even into his ’80s, King gleefully hams it up and the rest of the guys trade soulful blues licks with ease.

“How Blue Can You Get”
In this clip of his performance at the New York State’s Sing Sing prison in 1972, King shows you didn’t need to go all-out with playing the blues on guitar—quiet, textured mastery was essential to the sound, too.

B.B. King and Friends, Live in 1987
This concert has it all: Gladys Knight, Clapton, Phil Collins, Etta James, the late Stevie Ray Vaughn, Chaka Khan, and more. A stone-cold classic.

Live in Africa
The guitarist traveled to Kinshasa, Zire for a three-day concert pegged to Muhammad Ali and George Foreman’s legendary Rumble in the Jungle. And his eight-song set features just about all the songs that made him a legend.