Rock 'n' roll pioneer Little Richard has died.
A truly outrageous talent, Little Richard brought black R&B to white America with a series of searing, unforgettable sides, with his technicolour personality exploding on to US TV screens.
A bisexual extrovert whose libidinous songwriting left little to the imagination, hits such as 'Tutti Frutti' immortalised the singer.
Yet beneath this he was a troubled soul – drug addiction pushed him to the brink, before later abandoning rock 'n' roll for the church.
These two leanings – music and spirituality – would wrestle for his soul, with Little Richard moving between them over the subsequent decades.
Returning to music in the 60s, a young Jimi Hendrix cut his teeth in his outfit, with Little Richard remaining a potent, and in-demand stage performer.
Later settling in Nashville, his incredible life included tabloid infamy and a guest spot on Sesame Street.
Rolling Stone broke the news of Little Richard's death a few moments ago – he was 87 years old.
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