Ricks died Monday in a hospital in the northern Adriatic town of Rijeka, Croatia's musicians' union said in a statement.
The musician, who moved with his wife Nancy to live in Croatia earlier this year, had been in hospital in Rijeka since mid-August following a stroke.
Born in 1940 in Philadelphia, Ricks was an "example of a real 'rambler' who could never stay at one place," the statement said.
From 1970 to 1990 he lived and performed in Europe, before returning to the United States.
Ricks recorded several solo albums and participated in recording of more than 20 other records.
Ricks played with blues legends such as Lighting Hopkins, Sonny Terry, Brownie McGhee, Champion Jack Dupree, Son House and Doc Watson.
He also collaborated with major figures in the jazz world including Archie Shepp and McCoy Tyner.
Details about his funeral were not immediately known.

Copyright AFP (Agence France-Presse), 2007