Little Richard, considered one of the founding fathers — if not the inventor — of rock ‘n’ roll, and a pivotal crossover figure instrumental in the integration of dance floors and concerts in the U.S., died Saturday at 87.
Rolling Stone reports the legend’s son Danny Penniman confirmed his death without providing a cause.
Born Richard Wayne Penniman in Macon, Georgia, on December 5, 1932, he was dubbed “Lil’ Richard” for his small stature. He was bullied for having one leg shorter than the other, and for being effeminate, telling an interviewer later in life that he had been put out of the family home by his father for being gay. His family was deeply religious, and Richard was raised singing gospel music in choirs. Known for his over-the-top performances, he was discovered by his idol, gospel singer Sister Rosetta Tharpe, who gave him his first paid gig — at 14 — and who inspired him to pursue music as a profession.
Performing gospel, then R&B — of which his family deeply disapproved — he also donned drag and wore outrageous outfits, curating a subversive musical persona as early as the late ’40s.
By the early ’50s, Little Richard had recorded unsuccessfully for RCA Victor and had sung in several bands, but was on the verge of giving up when his demo caught fire at Specialty Records. During his first recording session, he sang a raunchy tune from his days on the minstrel circuit, a song with gay references that never would have been releasable. “Tutti Frutti” — once sanitized — was released in November 1955, becoming a smash that would influence generations of performers, and that became his signature tune. Its “a-wop-bop-a-loo-bop-a-wop-bam-boom!” became one of the most famous vocal riffs in music history.
While his career exploded thanks to crowd-pleasing instant classics like “Long Tall Sally” (1956), “Keep A-Knockin'” (1957), and “Good Golly, Miss Molly” (1958), he became deeply conflicted by the sexual nature of the form and at one point quit secular music to become a preacher.
He eventually returned to his roots, but his struggle between religiosity and hedonism informed much of his work, and his outrageous public persona.
In 1986, by then an undisputed icon, Little Richard nearly hit the Top 40 with his self-referential pop hit “Great Gosh A’Mighty (It’s a Matter of Time)” from the “Down and Out in Beverly Hills” soundtrack. He continued to sing publicly until his final concert in 2014, when failing health caught up to him.
In 1986, Little Richard was among the first acts inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. He never won a Grammy, but was given a Lifetime Achievement Grammy in 1993.
Though Little Richard had been openly gay at various times, he renounced homosexuality at the end of his life. His marriage to Ernestine Harvin ended in divorce.
Little Richard is survived by his son, who he adopted with his ex-wife.