Watch Eric Clapton Thank B.B. King ‘For All the Inspiration and Encouragement’

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Eric Clapton remembered his friend and colleague B.B. King in a video posted to Facebook Friday morning, saying he wanted to express his sadness.

“He was a beacon for all of us who love this kind of music,” Clapton said in the video below. “If you’re not familiar with his work, I would encourage you to go out and find an album called B.B. King Live at the Regal, which is where it all really started for me as a young player.”

Clapton and King collaborated on the 2000 album Riding With the King. King died Thursday night; he was 89.

Look Back at B.B. King's Life and Career

B. B. King Early Portrait
B.B. King a local DJ at WDIA Radio poses for a portrait circa 1948 in Memphis, Tenn.Michael Ochs Archives/ Getty images
B.B. King poses for a portrait in 1950.
B.B. King poses for a portrait in 1950. Gilles Petard/Redferns
King, Clapton & Bishop Jam
From Left: Musicians B.B. King, Eric Clapton and Elvin Bishop perform together in 1967 in New York City.Don Paulsen—Michael Ochs Archives
Blues man BB King
B.B. King performs on a TV show in Los Angeles in the early 1970's . Michael Ochs Archives/ Getty images
B.B. King Performing at Farm Aid
B.B. King performs at the Farm Aid concert in Champaign, Ill. on Sept. 22, 1985.Bettmann/Corbis
Photo of BB KING and Adam CLAYTON and BONO and U2
From Left: U2 and B.B. King perform onstage during The Lovetown tour on Sept. 1, 1989 in Australia.Bob King—Redferns
B.B. King and John Lee Hooker
From Left: B.B. King and John Lee Hooker pose for a portrait on Jan. 1, 1997.Bill Reitzel—Corbis
A Family Celebration 2001
From Left: President Bill Clinton plays the sax with B.B. King at 'A Family Celebration 2001' at the Regent Beverly Wilshire Hotel in Beverly Hills, Calif. on April 1, 2001 Kevin Winter—Getty Images
Legendary Ray Charles Funeral in Los Angeles
B.B. King performs during the funeral for legendary singer and musician Ray Charles at the First AME Church in Los Angeles on June 18, 2004.Genaro Molina—Reuters/Corbis
US blues musician Riley "B.B." King (L),
B.B. King smiles while President George W. Bush presents King with the Medal of Freedom on Dec. 15, 2006 in the East Room of the White House in Washington, DC. Tim Sloan—AFP/Getty Images
US President Barack Obama waves alongsid
From Left: B.B. King watches as President Barack Obama waves during the National Christmas Tree Lighting ceremony on the Ellipse near the White House in Washington, D.C. on Dec. 9, 2010. Saul Loeb—AFP/Getty Images
USA - Music - Peter Frampton's Guitar Circus Tour Performs in Atlanta
B.B. King performs at the Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre on Aug. 13, 2013 in Atlanta.John Davidson—Corbis

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