The legendary B.B. King’s children are potentially in legal trouble with his agent. Read more on the story after the jump!
King died on May 14th at his home in Las Vegas at age 89. His daughters Karen Williams, Patty King, Rita Washington and Barbara King Winfree, and son Willie King told The Associated Press that they didn’t think their father looked like himself in a memorial service for him. They are accusing King’s longtime business agent, LaVerne Toney, of keeping them from seeing their father for a week after he died and preventing them from taking photos of him in his casket. Patty King said, “A picture paints 1,000 words…He loved his children.” B.B. King is survived by eleven of his 15 children. Toney, who worked for King for 39 years, retained power-of-attorney over his affairs and estate despite many court challenges by Williams and Patty King. Toney told AP that she is doing what B.B. King said he wanted. Toney said of his family, “They want to do what they want to do, which is take over, I guess…But that wasn’t Mr. King’s wishes. Mr. King would be appalled.”
B.B. King’s will, which is dated Jan. 18, 2007, and was filed Wednesday under his birth name, Riley B. King, appoints Toney as sole executor of his affairs. His daughter, Riletta Williams, was second in line, but she died last September. Toney is banning the media and photographs of any kind during public viewings of B.B King. Funeral director Matt Phillips said viewers will be able to file past the open casket and security officials will prevent photos. The media won’t be allowed inside. Shirley King said “I don’t want to be part of the argument over his life…I don’t want to fight with family. I don’t want to fight with management…When everybody gets through being sad about him leaving, I want them to come out and let the good times roll and be happy about his life.”
More than 1,000 people came to the memorial service at a Palm Mortuary chapel near downtown Las Vegas. On Wednesday there will be a procession with his body down Beale St. in Memphis, Tenn. then his body will be driven to Mississippi for another ceremony burial on May 29th at the B.B. King Museum and Delta Interpretive Center in Indianola.
