Flamboyant singer/pianist/songwriter and rock pioneer Little Richard has died at age 87. Little Richard’s death was confirmed by his son, but the cause was not given.
The singer’s catalog of hits is still performed to this day including “Tutti Frutti,” “Lucille,” “Good Golly Miss Molly,” “Long Tall Sally,” “Rip It Up” all first made in the 1950s and helped dub him “The Architect of Rock and Roll” along with playing a key part in the formation of the soul and funk genres.
His music helped shape rhythm and blues for generations to come, as did his performance frenetic piano playing, raspy voice, wild costumes, big hair, excessive make-up, sexual androgyny, church gospel style interaction and more.
The Georgian born Richard Wayne Penniman was one of 12 children and was immediately immersed in the church, driving him to leave home as a young teen. After achieving great success in the 1950s, he abandoned his music career for an Alabama bible college where he became an ordained minister.
Ultimately he return to rock n’ roll in the mid 1960s but never again achieved his early level of success. He was able to spin it into a touring attraction which sustained his career for decades. He also would cameo as himself in films or on TV shows.
Over the decades Little Richard struggled with his own persona and sexual identity – proudly admitting and latter denouncing his homosexuality in various interviews and books though it had no real impact on his career or music which only grew in stature. He became one of the 10 original inductees to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and won a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Grammys in 1993.
Source: Rolling Stone
