Little Richard, founding father of rock, dead at 87

2005 filepic of Little Richard performing on the stage of the Olympia Concert Hall in Paris. – AFP

Little Richard, whose outrageous showmanship and lightning-fast rhythms intoxicated crowds in the 1950s with hits like Tutti Frutti and Long Tall Sally, has died. He was 87 years old.

Citing the rock 'n' roll pioneer's son, Rolling Stone magazine said Saturday the cause of death was unknown. With a distinctive voice that ranged from robust belting to howling falsetto, Richard transfixed audiences and became an inspiration for artists including The Beatles as he transformed the blues into the feverish new style of rock 'n' roll alongside Fats Domino and Chuck Berry.