Music legend Little Richard has died aged 87.
The rock and roll pioneer, whose hits include Tutti-Frutti and Long Tall Sally, passed away today.
Little Richard, known for his flamboyant stage persona, is credited with changing the face of music after he shot to fame in the 1950s.
His death was revealed by his son Danny Penniman who confirmed the news to Rolling Stone.
No more details about his passing are currently known.
Little Richard's tracks also include Rip It Up, Lucille and Good Golly Miss Molly and he laid a template for a number of global superstars including Prince, David Bowie and Sir Elton John.
His songs were covered by The Everly Brothers, the Kinks, and Elvis Costello.
His real name was Richard Wayne Penniman and he was born on December 5, 1932 in Georgia.
The singer-songwriter, who influenced musicians across musical genres from rock to hip hop and funk and helped to shape rhythm and blues for generations to come, was known for his frenetic piano playing, raspy singing voice and screams.
He was was one of 12 children.
As a child he sang in church and he stood out from the crowd because of his loud singing voice.
Tutti Frutti, which became one of Richard's signature songs with the line "awap bop a lup bop a wop bam boom", was written in 1955 when he was working as a dishwasher at a Greyhound bus station in his hometown of Macon.
It became an instant hit, reaching number 2 on Billboard Rhythm and Blues Best-Sellers chart and crossing over to the pop charts in the United States and overseas in the United Kingdom.
Chic guitarist Nile Rodgers wrote on Twitter: "The loss of a true giant. My sincerest condolences go out to his family and friends."
One fan wrote about the musical legend: "No Jimi, No Beatles, No Bowie, No Bolan. No glam, No Freddie, No Prince, No Elton, No Preston No Sly, No Stevie, without Little Richard!"
