The rhythm and blues man who spearheaded the birth of rock 'n' roll, Fats Domino, has died at the age of 89.

Hailing from New Orleans and of French Creole decent, Fats hopped around the honky tonks and bars of his hometown from an early age. After being taught to play the piano by his brother-in-law, the jazz guitarist Harrison Verrett.

His career catapulted quickly with hits like Ain't That A Shame breaking him into the American mainstream.

His influential sound inspired many, from Elvis Presley to John Lennon and Paul McCartney, with Chuck Berry and Jerry Lee Lewis to call his contemporaries. 

His bluesy Blueberry Hill went on to be his biggest hit..

By the sixties, Elvis Presley was his only rival for best-selling rock artist, and with 35 Top 40 US singles, Fats Domino was delivering New Orleans music to the rest of the world.

He went on to sell more than 65 million records, producing over 25 gold singles. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame by Billy Joel in 1986, one of the first 10 acts to do so.

Fats was awarded a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 1987 and he sits at the number 25 spot on Rolling Stone's 100 Greatest Artists Of All Time.

And another first, he was the first rock 'n' roll musician to be awarded a National Medal of Arts, which was presented to him by Bill Clinton in 1998.

With still a wave of royalties to ride on, by the 1980's he decided he'd no longer leave New Orleans, and live in his old neighbourhood.

When Hurricane Katrina hit, it destroyed his house and belongings. He helped to rebuild the city and played a benefit concert in 2007. President George W. Bush paid him a visit and replaced his National Medal of Arts.

Eight children now carry his legacy, a legacy of the man Elvis Presley dubbed in 1969 "the real king of rock and roll".

Paul will be played a selection of Fats Dominos tracks on The Paul McLoone Show, tonight from 9pm.