Blues legend BB King is to be awarded America's highest civilian honour by President George W Bush. King, 81, said: "It's been a long journey, but I've enjoyed every minute of it, bringing the blues to so many enthusiastic audiences." "For more than half a century, the King of the Blues and his guitar Lucille have thrilled audiences," said Mr Bush.
In July he performed at the Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland for the last time, having played there for more than 20 years. John Buck O'Neil, the grandson of a slave who became Major League Baseball's first black coach and British historian and journalist Paul Johnson will also receive the same honour.
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