One of the pioneers of Rock and Roll, Liftle Richard, has died at the age of 87, his family have confirmed. He died of bone cancer with his brother, sister and so. beside him,
Born Richard Wayne Penniman in 1932, he was one of 12 children children who performed t stand out from his brothers and sisters, he went on to have a string of hits throughout the 50s and beyond, including Tutti Frutti, Long Tall Sally and Good Golly Miss Molly.
A complex character, he brought black and white together, but suffered with his relationship with God, and his own homosexuality. His energetic, flamboyant style earned him fans but he struggled with his relationship with God and his own homosexuality. He was ordained as a priest, married and adopted a son, but lived as openly Homosexual for many years.
He influenced just about everyone in rock music, from The Rolling Stones and The Beatles, to Elton John and David Bowie. Mick Jagger said in a tribute “I’m so saddened to hear about the passing of Little Richard, he was the biggest inspiration of my early teens and his music has the same raw electric energy when you play it now as it did when it first shot through the music scene in the mid 50s. When we were on tour with him I would watch his moves every night and learn from him how to entertain and involve the audience and he was always so generous with advice to me, He contributed so much to popular music I will miss you Richard, God bless.
