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Another jarring loss in the world of Black entertainment hit news sites this morning after it was reported that legendary New Orleans musician Fats Domino has died. The singer was in his Louisiana reportedly flanked by family and friends during his passing.

Local outlet WWL reports:

Antoine “Fats” Domino, the iconic New Orleans singer-songwriter whose piano-playing sound and smiling face entertained generations of audiences around the world and introduced an unmistakable rock and roll-rhythm and blues sound to the world, died Tuesday night. He was 89.

His daughter told WWL-TV anchor Eric Paulsen, a longtime friend, that Domino died peacefully at home surrounded by family.

The always-reclusive and shy Domino had retired from performing shortly after Hurricane Katrina and had been in declining health over the past few years. He gave his last public performance in 2007 at Tipitina’s. In 2006, he famously at the last second backed out of a performance at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, though he appeared on stage, encouraged by Paulsen and others to smile and wave at the thousands of fans who had gathered to see him perform.

Follow this Biography.com link to learn more about the influential entertainer.

Rest powerfully in peace, Fats Domino.

Photo: Klaus Hiltscher – http://www.flickr.com/photos/khiltscher/5442580764/in/faves-24788065@N02/, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=15482480