Legendary New Orleans singer & pianist, Fats Domino, died on Tuesday at the age of 89 after a long illness.
Fats played classic New Orleans styled Rhythym and Blues, though he is regularly lumped in with Rock and Rollers because his chart career took off in the mid-fifties when Rock & Roll was taking off. Many R&B- & hillbilly- performers also benefited from the today wave of rock and roll's popularity, as their music was latched on to by dj's & the public beyond what had till then been the confines of the audiences for that music.
Some, such as country singer Bill Haley, adapted their music to the new sound, but Fats Domino did not really change his sound to acomodate rock & roll.