Richard Wayne Penniman (December 5, 1932 â€" May 9, 2020), known as
Little Richard, was an American musician, singer, and songwriter. He
was an influential figure in popular music and culture for seven
decades. Nicknamed "The Innovator, The Originator, and The Architect
of Rock and Roll", Richard's most celebrated work dates from the
mid-1950s, when his charismatic showmanship and dynamic music,
characterized by frenetic piano playing, pounding back beat and raspy
shouted vocals, laid the foundation for rock and roll. Richard's
innovative emotive vocalizations and uptempo rhythmic music also
played a key role in the formation of other popular music genres,
including soul and funk. He influenced numerous singers and musicians
across musical genres from rock to hip hop; his music helped shape
rhythm and blues for generations.Richard Wayne Penniman (December 5,
1932 â€" May 9, 2020), known as Little Richard, was an American
musician, singer, and songwriter. He was an influential figure in
popular music and culture for seven decades. Nicknamed "The Innovator,
The Originator, and The Architect of Rock and Roll", Richard's most
celebrated work dates from the mid-1950s, when his charismatic
showmanship and dynamic music, characterized by frenetic piano
playing, pounding back beat and raspy shouted vocals, laid the
foundation for rock and roll. Richard's innovative emotive
vocalizations and uptempo rhythmic music also played a key role in the
formation of other popular music genres, including soul and funk. He
influenced numerous singers and musicians across musical genres from
rock to hip hop; his music helped shape rhythm and blues for
generations."Tutti Frutti" (1955), one of Richard's signature songs,
became an instant hit, crossing over to the pop charts in both the
United States and overseas in the United Kingdom. His next hit single,
"Long Tall Sally" (1956), hit No. 1 on the Billboard Rhythm and Blues
Best-Sellers chart, followed by a rapid succession of fifteen more in
less than three years. His performances during this period resulted in
integration between White Americans and African Americans in his
audience. In 1962, during a five-year period in which Richard
abandoned rock and roll music for born again Christianity, concert
promoter Don Arden persuaded him to tour Europe. During this time,
Arden had the Beatles open for Richard on some tour dates,
capitalizing on his popularity. Richard advised the Beatles on how to
perform his songs and taught the band's member Paul McCartney his
distinctive vocalizations.Richard is cited as one of the first
crossover black artists, reaching audiences of all races. His music
and concerts broke the color line, drawing blacks and whites together
despite attempts to sustain segregation. Many of his contemporaries,
including Elvis Presley, Buddy Holly, Bill Haley, Jerry Lee Lewis, the
Everly Brothers, Gene Vincent and Eddie Cochran, recorded covers of
his works. Taken by his music and style, and personally covering four
of Richard's songs on his own two breakthrough albums in 1956, Presley
told Richard in 1969 that his music was an inspiration to him and that
he was "the greatest". Little Richard Top Movies & Young Movies