Little Richard, flamboyant rock ‘n’ roll pioneer, dead at 87

Bone cancer - poor man. That's not an easy end. Fly straight Little Richard Penniman.

He was a huge and delightful influence on music and culture who made people dance, smile, and unite in song, and he was a good man.

87 that's a life well lived, got to go sometime, painlessly preferably. Dude could sure put on a show.

we shall not see his kind again......

One of all-time musical idols! Little Richard was fantastic and one of the greatest names ever in the history of rock and roll. His influence was enormous and his huge talent was undeniable and revolutionary. RIP to one of the greatest of all time.

Some star in the sky will be brighter tonight. We are losing too many of our cultural greats lately.

He made every dance party a success. Great times in the 60's. Never forget you!

A great singer and legend. Everyone who enjoy good songs will miss him.

Who can ever forget "A-wop-bop-a-loo-bop, A-lop-bam-boom!" I loved his music! I had all his singles, along with those of Jerry Lee Lewis, Fats Domino and Chuck Berry. Learned many years later how raunchy the meaning of some of Richard's lyrics were. Didn't care!

Here's a great clip from The Little Richard Story.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d0RSQNNaH8Q

Rest in Peace? No way! It won't be long 'till he's got them all jiving in heaven.

Invalid CSRF

Total legend who would have been much bigger in the 1950s but for racism that let Presley be Elvis the Pelvis but kept Little Richard off television.

"Tutti Frutti" is about gay sex and the well-known version is highly sanitized compared to the original. There are some really filthy blues songs from the 1920s and 30s, many sung by women, so it was all part of that tradition.

Little Richard outlived Prince, his greatest protege, so he did well. The entertainment industry takes many of them young. RIP.

"Long Tall Sally" was a "Damascus" moment for me and many others. signifying my baptism and immediate conversion to the teenage religion of rebellion, as a "reborn" rock 'n' roller.

American music owes Africa big-time. My generation all came out of his "Wooooo"!

He has entered into legend and his musical legacy as one of the great innovators and influencers of rock is now secure. I will always remember him with gratitude! RIP, Little Richard.

When I see all these flamboyant musicians and TV personalities nowadays, I immediately think of Little Richard. I could not understand his act when I was a child but loved those songs and he always put out a ton of energy in his performances. His picture should be right next to the term "One of a kind." This guy had one whale of a life and he was definitely a rock and roll legend and icon. RIP.

Unlike most of us he will never be forgot! Turning the volume to max. Gonna tell aunt Mary about uncle john..... rock on Little Richard!

RIP big time Little Richard, always enjoyed his style of music, uplifting and fun.

RIP - He did not die from COVID-19.... AMAZING!

MocheakeToday 09:19 am JSTWhen I see all these flamboyant musicians and TV personalities nowadays, I immediately think of Little Richard. I could not understand his act when I was a child but loved those songs and he always put out a ton of energy in his performances. His picture should be right next to the term "One of a kind."

He is a foundation to what  rock'n'roll always should be - wild, energetic, fun, exciting, flamboyant, creative. His singing style inspired so many shouters including Dusty Hill of ZZ Top, Bruce Springsteen, Joe Eliot (Def Leppard), Rob Halford and many other heavy metal belters, glammy rockers from Alice Cooper, Bowie, Roxy Music and certainly Prince. The Beatles, Beach Boys and others took tips from him. Rock'n'roll would be rather boring without these artists who are inspired by Little Richard's persona as well. Look at Mick Jagger as an obvious example

The legacy and influences this guy made are tremendous. Rock'n'roll needs to be innovative yet FUN, wild, creative, energetic and free! Scream and shout, let's go crazy!

I'm in Generation X and I'm in my 50s but I hate this 'adult contemporary' crap that I'm 'supposed' to be listening to now. It's a drag.

By a sad coincidence there's been a string of 'R'-related deaths in rock'n'roll lately.

Ric Ocasek from the Cars, Marie Fredrickson of Roxette, Neil Peart of Rush, Kenny Rogers, and now Little Richard.

RIP LITTLE RICHARD You are now in Rock-n-Roll Heaven!

I never knew little Richard was an LGBTQII+. I guess I never picked up on the "flamboyance".

RIP.

The man was just astoundingly great, Without him, there wouldn’t be a Rock & Roll genre, nothing more to add. RIP, one of the best!

His voice was incredible.

Rest in Peace? No way! It won't be long 'till he's got them all jiving in heaven.

Well stated.

Every one of his hits sounds exactly the same. And Ike Turner was the father of rock.

RIP. He was so good it's difficult to even put into words. There's music before and after.

> > Every one of his hits sounds exactly the same. 

@Proxy,

Have you heard Little Richard?

Rip It Up, I Don't Know What You've Got, But It's Got Me, The Girl Can't Help It, Freedom Blues, Send Me Some Loving, Lucille and so many more.....

All hits on the R&B Charts and all totally different.

Here are more stories of Little Richard being an awesome person:

https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/ava-duvernay-says-little-richard-173004468.html

Marie Fredrickson of Roxette

That's a shock - I just learned from your comment. I met her and Per way back when. She was young but intense.

commanteerToday 09:34 pm JSTMarie Fredrickson of Roxette

That's a shock - I just learned from your comment. I met her and Per way back when. She was young but intense.

She passed away last December from breast cancer, age 61. I love Roxette, they proved that simple pop-rock CAN be energetic, creative and just plain fun. They proved that pop-rock doesn't  have to be bland, pedestrian, stupid 'soccer mommy'/Yuppie crap. My favorite song from them is 'Dangerous' which is uplifting for me and affirmative because as a straight man Per is singing that I don't have to be a 'typical male' stereotype - I can say NO to temptation. It says that I'm a man but I'm not an idiot.

And top of it all - that lady that really SING. I miss Roxette, they were fun.

Fighto!May 10 02:46 pm JSTI never knew little Richard was an LGBTQII+. I guess I never picked up on the "flamboyance".

RIP.

Most 'flamboyant' rockers, incl. the glitter/glam rockers and the glam metal bands, punkers and such are straight. It's a style. And difference does a star being 'LGBTQII+' make anyway? There's some who are good and there's some who ain't.

I've seen 'flamboyant' performers that I like on stage like Mick Jagger, Kimbra, Bono, Weird Al Yankovic, Ric Neilson of Cheap Trick, Bryan Ferry, Adam Ant, and others. 2 years ago I saw Styx and I don't like their new front man one bit - he's bombastic, vulgar, obnoxious, stupid and a showoff. And so it goes.  As for "flamboyance" it could be exciting or it could be disgusting, depending on how it's done.

Not sure how people missed Little Richard's meaning when he often said Elvis was the King of Rock and Roll, but he was the Queen.

In any case, that's neither here nor there..his songs sure could energize a party of a concert .

Nippori NickToday 12:59 am JSTNot sure how people missed Little Richard's meaning when he often said Elvis was the King of Rock and Roll, but he was the Queen.

In any case, that's neither here nor there..his songs sure could energize a party of a concert .

Read the article. What difference does it really make what his sexuality was? Rock'n'roll is universal. It doesn't matter what your race, sex, color, religion, sexual orientation, any factor is. I've seen rock bands and musicians of every category listed above, from every continent except Antarctica. Either you got it or you don't.

It all starts somewhere and the thrill of it all began with Little Richard and his contemporaries.

I wouldn’t call Weird Al or Adam Ant or even Bono flamboyant. How anyone could have missed Little Richard and how overly flamboyant he was is equal to saying one missed Freddie Mercury being flamboyant the same goes for Boy George or Martin Gore from Depeche Mode, Limahl, Robert Smith, Morrissey these are some of the more softer flamboyant men singers, it’s also what defined them as well as their music.

bass4funkMay 12 10:57 pm JSTI wouldn’t call Weird Al or Adam Ant or even Bono flamboyant. How anyone could have missed Little Richard and how overly flamboyant he was is equal to saying one missed Freddie Mercury being flamboyant the same goes for Boy George or Martin Gore from Depeche Mode, Limahl, Robert Smith, Morrissey these are some of the more softer flamboyant men singers, it’s also what defined them as well as their music.

OK. Maybe Bono isn't so 'flamboyant' so much as he parodies it. But Weird Al qualifies for the simple fact that he does a skit, then rushes backstage for a quick costume change (and I mean FAST!) then he rushes back onstage to do it again. He does this constantly for 3 hours - he's one of the hardest working entertainers in the business. I ran into him at a marketplace before the evening's show. Onstage he is gonzo!!!!

And I've seen Adam Ant on stage as well. He comes on stage to the tune of Tchaikovsky's '1812 Overture' and he jumps around, leaping and hopping around, spinning, tossing his mike stand around - while wearing piratical getup and Apache warpaint. If that ain't flamboyant then at least it's theatrical - and Adam Ant on stage is very entertaining and he is NUTS! Well worth the time and money.

I never got to see Queen but Freddie Mercury was flamboyant for sure - a born entertainer. No one can replace him. On their 'Live At Wembly' CD they even cover 'Tutti Fruitti', fittingly.