![]() Penniman was performing with bands by the age of 14, but there were problems at home over his sexual orientation. The tug-of-war between his upbringing and rock ‘n’ roll excess tormented Penniman throughout his career. The family was religious, and Richard sang in local churches with a group called the Tiny Tots. He was ostracized because he was effeminate and suffered a small deformity: his right leg was shorter than his left. Richard Wayne Penniman was born in Macon, Georgia, during the Great Depression, one of 12 children. “I am the architect of rock ‘n’ roll!” Little Richard crowed at the 1988 Grammy Awards as the crowd rose in a standing ovation. The flamboyant singer claimed he paved the way for Elvis, provided Mick Jagger with his stage moves and conducted vocal lessons for McCartney. When the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame opened in 1986, he was among the charter members with Elvis Presley, Berry, Buddy Holly, Jerry Lee Lewis, Sam Cooke and others.įew were quicker to acknowledge Little Richard’s seminal role than Richard himself. The Beatles’ Paul McCartney imitated Richard’s signature yelps - perhaps most notably in the “Wooooo!” from the hit “She Loves You.” Ex-bandmate John Lennon covered Richard’s “Rip It Up” and “Ready Teddy” on the 1975 “Rock and Roll” album. It was highlighted by Richard’s memorable call of “wop-bop-a-loo-bop-a-lop-bam-boom.”Ī string of hits followed, providing the foundation of rock music: “Lucille,” “Keep A Knockin’,” “Long Tall Sally,” “Good Golly Miss Molly.” More than 40 years after the latter charted, Bruce Springsteen was still performing “Good Golly Miss Molly” live. It was 1956 when his classic “Tutti Frutti” landed like a hand grenade in the Top 40, exploding from radios and off turntables across the country. “Little Richard was great on every record.” ![]() “Little Richard? That’s rock ‘n’ roll,” Neil Young, who heard Richard’s riffs on the radio in Canada, told biographer Jimmy McDonough. In his personal life, he wavered between raunch and religion, alternately embracing the Good Book and outrageous behavior. He sold more than 30 million records worldwide, and his influence on other musicians was equally staggering, from the Beatles and Otis Redding to Creedence Clearwater Revival and David Bowie. Richard’s hyperkinetic piano playing, coupled with his howling vocals and hairdo, made him an implausible sensation - a gay, black man celebrated across America during the buttoned-down Eisenhower era. Minson added that the family is not releasing the cause of death.īorn Richard Penniman, Little Richard was one of rock ‘n’ roll’s founding fathers who helped shatter the color line on the music charts, joining Chuck Berry and Fats Domino in bringing what was once called “race music” into the mainstream. Minson said he also spoke to Little Richard’s son and brother. Pastor Bill Minson, a close friend of Little Richard’s, told The Associated Press that Little Richard died Saturday morning. (AP) - Little Richard, the self-proclaimed “architect of rock ‘n’ roll” whose piercing wail, pounding piano and towering pompadour irrevocably altered popular music while introducing black R&B to white America, has died Saturday. 2 on the Billboard charts in 1956.NASHVILLE, Tenn. His first big hit, the classic "Tutti Frutti," reached No. Penniman, one of 12 children, dropped out of school after the ninth grade and went on the road to perform R&B music. Throughout his decades-long career, Little Richard sold more than 30 million records worldwide and is credited as one of rock 'n' roll's founding fathers, bringing what was once called "race music" into the mainstream.īorn Richard Wayne Penniman, in Macon, Georgia, he was discovered by gospel and soul legend Sister Rosetta Tharpe when he was 14 years old, according to a 2018 article in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Minson said the family is not releasing the cause of death. Pastor Bill Minson, a close friend of Little Richard's, told The Associated Press that Little Richard died Saturday morning. NASHVILLE - Little Richard, the flamboyant singer, songwriter, and musician known for a string of rock and roll hit songs and fiery showmanship, has died, according to his pastor. ![]() His first big hit, of which he may be best known for, 'Tutti Frutti,' reached number 2 on the Billboard charts in 1955.
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