- Born
- 5 December 1932, Macon, Georgia, United States
- First work
- 1951: Taxi Blues
- Peak
- 1955 to 1958 (estimated)
- Last work
- 2005: Southern Child
- Died
- 9 May 2020, Tullahoma, United States; aged 87; illness
Little Richard
Music: singer, pianist, songwriter, United States
Little Richard was an American singer, pianist, and songwriter whose explosive vocal delivery and flamboyant theatricality ignited the early days of rock and roll. Born in Macon, Georgia, in 1932, he emerged on the national scene in 1955 with Tutti Frutti, introducing driving piano rhythms and electrifying shrieks that influenced an entire generation of performers. Over the late 1950s, he produced a run of immortal singles including Long Tall Sally and Lucille. Although his career saw shifts between secular rhythm and blues and gospel ministry, his influence on modern popular music remained permanent. He passed away in Tennessee in 2020 at eighty-seven.
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Signature works
- Tutti Frutti 1955
- Long Tall Sally 1956
- The Girl Can't Help It 1956
- Lucille 1957
- Good Golly, Miss Molly 1958
Honours
- Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee, 1986
- Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, 1993
- Hollywood Walk of Fame star, 1990