The King of Blues, B.B. King, has been given the highest civilian honour in the U.S. — the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

In a ceremony at the White House on Friday, U.S. President George W. Bush described King and other honourees as "exceptional individuals who have gained great admiration and respect."

B.B. King hit the Billboard charts 74 times between 1951 and 1985.
(Canadian Press)

The honour acknowledges achievement in the arts, science, public service, education and athletics.

"For more than half a century, the King of the Blues and his guitar Lucille have thrilled audiences, influenced generations of guitarists and helped give the blues its special place in the American musical tradition," Bush said when the list of honourees was announced in late November.

The 81-year-old guitarist, who is on his farewell tour, made his mark during the 1950s with such classics as Lucille, Woke Up This Morning, Three O'Clock Blues, You Don't Know Me, Whole Lotta' Love, Please Love Me and Sweet Little Angel.

King's Live at the Regal album — 20 singles recorded in 1964 at the Regal Theater in Chicago — is considered a landmark in blues music history, introducing his brand of urban blues to a mainstream audience.

The musician, born Riley B. King on a Mississippi plantation, continued to expand his fan base, becoming an opening act on The Rolling Stones' 1969 American tour and broadening his success with hits during the 1970s, including To Know You Is to Love You, The Thrill is Gone and I Like to Live the Love.

Between 1951 and 1985, the Grammy Award-winning musician hit Billboard's R&B charts an astonishing 74 times.

Although he's been recording less in recent years, King still has the golden touch. He recorded When Love Comes To Town in 1988 with Irish band U2 on their Rattle and Hum album and then teamed up with Eric Clapton in 2000 for Riding With the King.

King also holds a U.S. National Medal of Arts, given in 1990, and an honorary doctorate from the University of Mississippi.

Other Medal of Freedom recipients included historian and journalist Paul Johnson, Nobel Prize-winning scientist Joshua Lederberg, writer William Safire and human rights activist Natan Sharansky.

With files from the Associated Press