Death of Grammy musician, Dr. John, at the age of 77

John, a Grammy-winning American singer, died at the age of 77 following a heart attack.

The musician born in New Orleans died Thursday, according to a message posted on his official Twitter account.

The singer of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame combined the genres of blues, pop, jazz, boogie woogie and rock and roll.

A statement said: "Towards dawn on June 6, the legendary music legend Malcolm John Rebennack, Jr., nicknamed Dr. John, died of a heart attack."

He added, "The family thanks everyone who has shared their musical journey and their unique privacy demands at this time, and the arrangements for the memorial will be announced later."

Blondie's lead singer, Debbie Harry, was one of those who paid tribute, sharing a photo of herself with the six-time Grammy winner.

Former Beatles drummer Ringo Starr also tweeted a photo, with the message: "God bless Dr. John, peace and love to all his family, I love the doctor, peace and love."

His career began in the late '50s, when he became a pianist and leading singer on the New Orleans music scene, before being recognized as a solo artist by the release of his Gray-Gray album in 1968.

Dr. John, who has successfully battled heroin addiction, is perhaps best known for his 1973 hit Right Place, Wrong Time.

His shows were known for their carnival atmosphere and he wore brightly colored costumes, feathers and feathers, and scattered glitter on the audience.

He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame by singer John Legend in 2011.

He has recorded some 35 albums and three of them have won Grammys, the latest being "Locked Down" in 2013.

The album was about drugs, his time in prison – he was sentenced to two years in prison for drug charges in the mid-1960s – and efforts to re-establish relationships with his children.

He has been married twice and told the New York Times that he had "many" children.