My mother listened to him a lot when I was young. I could identify him on the radio as long as I can remember. But when I was a teenager and saw him in the Blues Brothers movie, I really enjoyed and appriciated his music and he as an artist. It is amazing that such a ridiculous movie could actually spark interest in that genre of music again. He has always been a top entertainer and musician, but to achieve so much and be blind and black, that is really tantimount to his being. And to be so well known across so many generations, even Elvis is more of a joke now with young people due to the commercialization of his image in Vegas.
When most people give up for whatever reason, he inspires us all that we can achieve our own goals regardless of our present situation. Being a minority and blind, he found something within himself learn to play the piano, write music, sing songs in a way that only he can sing them. He had a reason to sing the Blues, but made us all happier when we heard him play.
I think we will all miss him, but like someone posted before, he will live forever in our hearts, and so will his music.