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American R&B singer, Bobby ‘Blue’ Bland, died in Memphis, Tennessee on Sunday following complications from an ongoing illness. He was 83.

Bobby Bland become known as the Lion of the Blues for his powerful vocal delivery, which earned him many plaudits and chart successes throughout his long career. He was born in Rosemark, Tennessee on January 27, 1930 and moved to Memphis in 1947 where he became an original member of the Beale Streeters, alongside the likes of B.B. King and Junior Parker.

After a spell in the army in the early 1950s, Bland returned to the Memphis music scene, achieving success on the R&B chart with singles such as “Farther Up the Road” (1957), “Little Boy Blue” (1958) and “I’m Not Ashamed” (1959).

“Little Boy Blue” – Bobby Bland

The hits continued for Bland into the 1960s, with “Lead Me On” (1960), “Cry Cry Cry” (1960), “I Pity The Fool” (1961), “Don’t Cry No More” (1961) and “Turn On Your Love Light” (1961) all reaching the R&B Top Ten. His biggest hit was “Ain’t Nothing You Can Do” which peaked at number 20 on the pop chart in 1964.

“Ain’t Nothing You Can Do” – Bobby Bland

In the 1970s, Bland recorded a number of critically acclaimed contemporary blues/soul albums, including “His California Album,” “Dreamer” and “Reflections in Blue.” He also collaborated with his old friend B.B. King on the albums “Together for the First Time” (1974) and “Bobby Bland and B. B. King Together Again…Live” (1976).

The Thrill is Gone – B.B. King & Bobby Bland (1977)

Bland signed to Malaco Records in the mid-1980s and released a series of strong albums, the last of which was 2003’s “Blues At Midnight”. He also continued to perform live, with solo tours, festival appearances, and occasional performances with B.B. King.

Bobby Bland was inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame in 1981, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1992, and received the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 1997.