In Memoriam
Little Richard
December 5, 1932 – May 9, 2020 · aged 87
Rock and Roll · R&B
Richard Wayne Penniman, known to the world as Little Richard, was the true, flamboyant architect of rock and roll. Born in Georgia in 1932, he took the fervent energy of gospel music, cranked the tempo, and smashed the piano keys with unprecedented ferocity. In 1955, his explosive single 'Tutti Frutti'—opening with the immortal battle cry 'A-wop-bop-a-loo-bop-a-wop-bam-boom!'—shattered the musical landscape. With his towering pompadour, heavy eyeliner, and wild, shrieking vocal delivery, he laid the direct groundwork for everyone from James Brown to Prince and The Beatles. He unapologetically tore down racial and sexual barriers in a deeply segregated 1950s America. Torn between secular fame and his religious convictions, he famously abandoned rock music several times to preach, only to inevitably return to the stage. He passed away from bone cancer on May 9, 2020, at the age of 87, leaving behind a genre he essentially willed into existence.
Milestones
Tutti Frutti, Long Tall Sally, Good Golly Miss Molly
Also remembered in 2020
- Bill Withers (1938–2020)
- Eddie Van Halen (1955–2020)
- Kenny Rogers (1938–2020)
- Neil Peart (1952–2020)