Little Richard has passed away at the age of 87, according to celebrity news website TMZ.
Considered by many to be a pioneer of rock 'n' roll music, the singer, songwriter and piano player rose to prominence in the 50s with hits like Tutti Frutti and Long Tall Sally.
Little Richard, birth name Richard Wayne Penniman, was among the first group on inductees into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1986. In 1993, he received a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.
According to TMZ, Little Richard had been sick for two months and died surrounded by family in Tennessee. No official cause of death has been provided.
