Nationwide — Little Richard, the singer/musician known as an original pioneer for his contributions to the popularity of Rock and Roll music, has died. CNN confirms that he was 87-years old, and had been sick for 2 months with cancer. He died at his home in Tennessee.
Little Richard, who was very energetic and flamboyant in his performances, had many hit songs including “Tutti Frutti,” “Long Tall Sally,” “Jenny, Jenny”, “Slippin’ and Slidin,” and “Good Golly Miss Molly”. He reportedly sold more than 50 million records during his decades-spanning career.
Born Richard Wayne Penniman in 1932, he began showing signs of musical genius at a very young age. At the age of 19, he had already taken on the name “Little Richard,” and began his music career after signing to RCA Victor and then Peacock Records in 1953. But his international success really took off when he signed with Specialty Records in 1955.
He was one of many artists in the 1950s and 60s era that helped break the color barrier between Blacks and whites.