People walk by the marquee outside B.B. King Blues Club & Grill at Times Square in New York May 15, 2015. [Photo/Agencies]

The men knocked over a kerosene lamp, setting fire to the building. King risked his life to retrieve his $30 guitar.

In 2003, Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 100 greatest guitarists of all time ranked King at No. 3, behind only Jimi Hendrix and Duane Allman.

Luminaries from the music world paid tribute to King.

Chicago blues veteran Buddy Guy described King as "the greatest guy I ever met."

"The tone he got out of that guitar, the way he shook his left wrist, the way he squeezed the strings... it was all new to the whole guitar playin' world," Guy wrote in a posting on Instagram. "I promise I will keep these damn blues alive."

Rocker Bryan Adams said on Twitter King was "one of the best blues guitarists ever, maybe the best. He could do more on one note than anyone."

Rapper Snoop Dogg, rocker Lenny Kravitz, Kiss frontman Gene Simmons, former Beatle Ringo Starr and US country singer Brad Paisley were among others who posted tributes.