B.B. King (hospitalized)
Ed Varner
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B.B. King Hospitalized in Texas
FRIDAY JANUARY 26, 2007
Blues singer B.B. King has been hospitalized in Texas for undisclosed
reasons but is in good condition, a hospital official confirmed to
PEOPLE on Friday.
"He has a low fever but is resting comfortably. He's in good
condition," hospital spokesman John Coloen told PEOPLE. "We're
expecting him to be released this evening or tomorrow."
The 81-year-old singer was admitted to the University of Texas Medical
Branch at Galveston on Thursday. King - who in December was awarded
the Presidential Medal of Freedom for his musical contributions - is
scheduled to perform at a concert on Friday evening that has not yet
been cancelled officially.
Paco Vargas, whose restaurant Rudy & Paco is one of the show's major
sponsors, told the Houston Chronicle the singer did not leave his tour
bus all day Thursday.
About 6:30 p.m. Vargas was ready to dish up snapper and lump crab meat
for the singer at his restaurant, right next door to the Grand Opera
House where King was scheduled to perform Thursday night. But a member
of King's entourage arrived and said the singer wasn't feeling well.
Two doctors - restaurant regulars who happened to be dining there at
the time - went to the tour bus to examine King.
After a half hour examination, they recommended he cancel his Thursday
evening performance and enter the hospital.
Ed Varner
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B.B. King released from Texas hospital
HOUSTON Blues legend B-B King today was discharged from a Galveston
hospital after being treated for a fever.
A spokeswoman for the 81-year-old musician said King was -- quote --
"back to his old self."
King was admitted Thursday, shortly before he was scheduled to perform
at the city's Grand Opera House.
Tina France, King's spokeswoman, said the guitar legend had a 100-
point-four degree fever when he was hospitalized. King had just
battled through a bout with the flu.
King is still scheduled to perform in Fort Worth on Tuesday.
But his concerts in Galveston, Orange and Tyler will be rescheduled
for June.
King is one of the nation's most influential and best-known blues
musicians. His long list of hits includes "The Thrill
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