On Saturday, May 9, Little Richard, a renowned rock ‘n’ roll pioneer, passed away at the age of 87. The passing of Richard was verified to Rolling Stone by his son, Danny Jones Penniman.
When Little Richard first appeared on the music scene, rock ‘n’ roll was only getting started. He merged elements of blues and gospel to radically reimagine and revitalize the genre, making him the true creator of it.
Creedence Clearwater Revival, the Beatles, Bob Dylan, James Brown, and Prince were all influenced by him.
What was the cause of Little Richard’s death?
Little Richard, a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame who had singles including Tutti Frutti and Good Golly Miss Molly, has passed away. He was 87.
Little Richard died in Nashville this morning from bone cancer. In Nashville, he shared a home with his brother. He fought for a long time—many years.
Richard Penniman, who has had a career spanning more than 60 years, first gained notoriety in the 1950s and was almost immediately recognized for his electrifying stage performances.
Despite never receiving recognition for his contribution to rock and roll, he is unquestionably responsible for the marriage of R&B with that genre.
