Rock 'n' roll pioneer Little Richard died Saturday, his close friend, Pastor Bill Minson, told The Associated Press. The musician's son, Danny Jones Penniman, confirmed the news, but the cause of death is unknown. He was 87.
Little Richard, born Richard Penniman, considered himself the "architect" of the music genre known as rock 'n' roll, and he — along with the likes of Chuck Berry and Fats Domino — helped shatter the color line on music charts, bringing what was once called "race music" into the mainstream, AP reports. Richard was known for his skills on the piano and his distinctive vocals, as well as fashion choices and energetic personality on-stage.
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