Little Richard, 1932-2020

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Richard Wayne Penniman (December 5, 1932 – May 9, 2020), known professionally as Little Richard, was an American singer, pianist, and songwriter. He was an influential figure in popular music and culture for seven decades. Described as 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 powerful raspy vocals, laid the foundation for rock and roll. Richard's innovative emotive vocalizations and uptempo rhythmic music played a key role in the formation of other popular music genres, including soul and funk. He influenced 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 the United States and 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. In 1962, after a five-year period during which Richard abandoned rock and roll music for born-again Christianity, concert promoter Don Arden persuaded him to tour Europe. During this time, the Beatles opened for Richard on some tour dates.

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 black and white people 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, Pat Boone, and Eddie Cochran, recorded covers of his works.

Richard was honored by many institutions. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as part of its first group of inductees in 1986. He was also inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame. He was the recipient of Lifetime Achievement Awards from The Recording Academy and the Rhythm and Blues Foundation. In 2015, Richard received a Rhapsody & Rhythm Award from the National Museum of African American Music. "Tutti Frutti" was included in the National Recording Registry of the Library of Congress in 2010, which stated that his "unique vocalizing over the irresistible beat announced a new era in music". Little Richard's creativity took a big role in his music making.

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
referencedIn Concord Music Group,. Specialty Records Collection, 1947-1994, undated Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Library and Archives
referencedIn Parker, Charles B.,. Bluefield Auditorium Posters, 1956-1958. Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Library and Archives
referencedIn Fountain, Pauline,. Ray Topping Papers, 1943-2006. Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Library and Archives
creatorOf Education and Housing Equity Project (Minneapolis, Minn.). Project records, 1990-2000 (bulk 1996-1999). Minnesota Historical Society Library
referencedIn Petryszyn, Steve,. Steve Petryszyn Collection, 1950-2000, undated. Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Library and Archives
referencedIn Gelman, Anita. Anita Gelman Collection, 1970s-1980s. Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Library and Archives
referencedIn Center for Popular Music Vertical Files Center for Popular Music, Middle Tennessee State University
creatorOf Rudy Grillo sound recordings, 1970-1989 New York Public Library. Manuscripts and Archives Division
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith Education and Housing Equity Project (Minneapolis, Minn.). corporateBody
associatedWith Gelman, Anita. person
associatedWith Grillo, Rudy. person
memberOf Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum corporateBody
associatedWith Sister Rosetta Tharpe person
memberOf Songwriters Hall of Fame corporateBody
Place Name Admin Code Country
Macon GA US
Tullahoma TN US
Subject
Occupation
Musicians
Activity

Person

Birth 1932-12-05

Death 2020-05-09

Americans

English

Information

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