Blues legend B B King released from US hospital

LOS ANGELES, Jan 28 (Reuters) B B King was released from a Texas hospital yesterday, two days after the 81-year-old blues legend was admitted with flu-like symptoms, a hospital spokeswoman said.

King, who is diabetic but otherwise said to be in good health, left the University of Texas Medical Branch's Acute Care for Elders unit in Galveston at about 1 p m CST, hospital spokeswoman Judie Kinonen said.

King was hospitalized on Thursday with a low-grade fever resulting from the flu. He had been scheduled to perform at the Grand 1894 Opera House in Galveston on Thursday and Friday nights.

Both shows were canceled.

King, whose biggest hits include ''The Thrill Is Gone'' and ''Every Day I Have the Blues,'' has amassed 14 Grammy Awards during his career, nine of them for best traditional blues album.

The most recent was for a 2005 collection of duets he recorded in honor of his 80th birthday.

REUTERS DH RN0656