Thursday, March 28, 2024

WE REMEMBER: Little Richard Dead at 87 from Bone Cancer

Little Richard (piano - GettyImages)

UPdate …

When we first posted news about the passing of Little Richard, the cause of death was not know. We now have an update via The Guardian, which reported …

Richard, whose real name was Richard Penniman, was born in Macon, Georgia in December 1932. He had been in poor health for several years, suffering hip problems, a stroke and a heart attack.

Richard’s son, Danny Penniman, first confirmed the pioneer’s death. In a statement, Richard’s agent, Dick Alen, said: “Little Richard passed away this morning from bone cancer in Nashville.

“He was battling for a good while, many years. I last spoke to him about two or three weeks ago. I knew he wasn’t well but he never really got into it, he just would say ‘I’m not well.’”

Here is Our Initial Report on the passing of Little Richard …

*Just hours after announcing the death of music mogul Andre Harell, we now have to inform you of the passing of rock and roll legend and Georgia native legend Little Richard.

Born in Macon, Georgia, the iconic artist’s real name was Richard Wayne Penniman. He was 87.

According to a report by RollingStone, the musician’s son, Danny Penniman, confirmed the death, but told the magazine that the cause of death was unknown, although it was not completely unexpected due to his age on ongoing deteriorating health condition over the past year or so.

Known for his charismatic showmanship and dynamic music, first, as a rhythm and blues artist, Little Richard literally laid the foundation for rock and roll.

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Little Richard came to national attention when he released  “Tutti Frutti,” “Long Tall Sally” and “Rip It Up” in 1956.  Then, “Lucille” in 1957, and “Good Golly Miss Molly” in 1958 made the musician a household name. He would go on to influence numerous artists throughout the years, including the late David Bowie and Elton John.

“I heard Little Richard and Jerry Lee Lewis, and that was it,” 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.”

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Little Richard 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 is the recipient of a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Recording Academy and a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Rhythm and Blues Foundation.

In 2015, Penniman received a Rhapsody & Rhythm Award from the National Museum of African American Music for his key role in the formation of popular music genres and helping to bring an end to the racial divide on the music charts and in concert in the mid-1950s changing American culture significantly.

Read/learn MORE at the life of Little Ricard/Ricard Penniman at RollingStone.

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