Little Richard Has Died

Via Twitter

From Rolling Stone:

Little Richard, a founding father of rock and roll whose fervent shrieks, flamboyant garb, and joyful, gender-bending persona embodied the spirit and sound of that new art form, died Saturday. He was 87. The musician’s son, Danny Penniman, confirmed the pioneer’s death to Rolling Stone, but said the cause of death was unknown. 

 

“I heard Little Richard and Jerry Lee Lewis, and that was it,” Elton John told Rolling Stone in 1973. “I didn’t ever want to be anything else. I’m more of a Little Richard stylist than a Jerry Lee Lewis, I think. Jerry Lee is a very intricate piano player and very skillful, but Little Richard is more of a pounder.” 

Read Rolling Stone's full obituary here.

Although he never hit the top 10 again after 1958, Little Richard’s influence was massive and quite frankly, influenced everybody.
The Beatles, Stones, Elton, Everly Brothers, The Kinks, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Bob Dylan, Elvis Costello, The Scorpions, Prince, EVERYBODY. pic.twitter.com/Lt3WaBa5rR

— Eric Alper 🎧 (@ThatEricAlper) May 9, 2020

Little Richard (1932-2020) consenting to pose with obscure opening act in Hamburg, 1962: pic.twitter.com/HRFyE3knJE

— Michael Beschloss (@BeschlossDC) May 9, 2020