Little Richard, Rock ‘n’ Roll Pioneer, Has Passed Away At 87
Little Richard, a founding father of rock & roll whose known for his flamboyant presences and high-energy performances, died Saturday. He was 87. The musician’s son, Danny Jones Penniman, confirmed the pioneer’s death to Rolling Stone, and the musician’s lawyer Bill Sobel revealed that he died of bone cancer.
Starting with “Tutti Frutti” in 1956, Little Richard cut a series of unstoppable hits – “Long Tall Sally” and “Rip It Up” that same year, “Lucille” in 1957, and “Good Golly Miss Molly” in 1958 – driven by his simple, pumping piano, gospel-influenced vocal exclamations and sexually charged (often gibberish) lyrics.
Although he never hit the Top 10 again after 1958, Little Richard’s influence was massive. Artist after him continued singing his songs and sampling his music.
Born Richard Wayne Penniman on December 5th, 1932, in Macon, Georgia, he was one of 12 children and grew up around uncles who were preachers.
In an interview with Rolling Stone, Little Richard shared that although he sang in a nearby church, his father Bud wasn’t supportive of his music and his dad accused him of being gay. He then left home at 13 and moved in with a white family in Macon. But music stayed with him: One of his boyhood friends was Otis Redding, and Little Richard heard R&B, blues, and country while working at a concession stand at the Macon City Auditorium.
After releasing many Little Richard soon ended his Rock ‘n’ Roll career. He said after what he interpreted as signs — a plane engine that seemed to be on fire and a dream about the end of the world and his own damnation — Penniman gave up music in 1957 and began attending the Alabama Bible school Oakwood College, where he was eventually ordained a minister. When he finally cut another album, in 1959, the result was a gospel set called God Is Real.
In the years before his death, Little Richard, who was by then based in Nashville, still performed periodically.
Reports say that Little Richard was living with his brother at the time of his death.
Sending condolences to the family. RIP, Father of Rock ‘n’ Roll.
