Little Richard, one of the chief architects of rock ‘n’ roll, died Saturday morning after battling bone cancer. American singer Little Richard has died at the age of 87, family sources have confirmed.

He died at a family home in Tullahoma, Tennessee.

He was not only an iconic and legendary musician, but he was also a kind, empathetic, and insightful human being.

Little Richard was one of rock ‘n’ roll’s founding fathers who helped shatter the color line on the music charts, joining Chuck Berry and Fats Domino in bringing what was once called “race music” into the mainstream.

Richard's famous song "Good Golly Miss Molly" topped the charts in 1958. His other popular songs include 'Tutti Frutti' and 'Long Tall Sally'.

Little Richard was awarded the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1986. When the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame opened, he was among the charter members with Elvis Presley, Berry, Buddy Holly, Jerry Lee Lewis, Sam Cooke, and others. Richard was even called the self-styled 'King and Queen of Rock and Roll'.

Richard was given a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. He had hip surgery in November 2009 at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville and asked fans at the time to pray for him.