Legendary rock drummer Earl Palmer dies

The drummer who provided the distinctive backbeat for rock and roll songs by Fats Domino and Little Richard has died, aged 83.

Earl Palmer became known as one of Hollywood's busiest session musicians and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2000.

Palmer died at his Los Angeles home after "a lengthy illness", the Los Angeles Times reports.

Palmer played in thousands of rock and roll, jazz and pop music sessions, as well as on countless movie, television and commercial scores.

He set the rhythm for Fats Domino's 'I’m Walkin', Little Richard's 'Tutti Frutti' and 'Long Tall Sally', Ritchie Valens's 'La Bamba' and Sam Cooke's 'You Send Me'. He also worked on 'You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin' by the Righteous Brothers and 'River Deep, Mountain High' by Ike and Tina Turner.

His "solid stickwork and feverish backbeat" in laying the foundation for rock 'n' roll drumming were cited when he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.