Rodd Bland, whose father died two years ago (Jun13), wept at intervals as he walked ahead of a hearse carrying King's remains in a casket as fans lined the roads leading to Beale Street, calling out the late guitar great's name.

And it seemed to many that the heavens were crying too as rain poured down on the proceedings, where King's friends and family members gathered with local dignitaries to say farewell to the king of the blues.

King passed away after suffering a series of small strokes on 14 May (15), aged 89 at his home in Las Vegas. His remains were flown to Memphis on Wednesday following a memorial in Sin City last weekend.

The Tennessee city was a big part of Mississippi native King's career - it's where he got his stage name, the Beale Street Blues Boy, as a local DJ in the 1940s.

King's remains will be buried in Mississippi on Saturday (30May15) after a final viewing on Friday night (29May15).

Meanwhile, officials in Nevada are still investigating family claims the blues legend was poisoned by longtime associates. An attorney for King's estate has called the allegations unfounded.