Little Richard (born Richard Wayne Penniman, December 5, 1932) is a pioneer in the early development of rock and roll. His early recording career in the 1950s was a mix of blues music and rhythm and blues, heavily steeped in gospel music.

Richard Penniman sent a demo tape to Specialty Records in 1955, and met for a recording session in New Orleans. During a break in that session, Richard began singing an impromptu recital of Tutti Frutti, an obscene, lusty song popular at the time. The song is his most distinctive hit, with a saxophone and piano beat and swift rhythm (and cleaned-up lyrics). In the next few years, Richard had several more hits, including Long Tall Sally, Slippin' and Slidin', Jenny, Jenny and Good Golly, Miss Molly.

Little Richard quit the music business suddenly in 1957, while in the middle of an Australian tour; he reportedly renounced his rock and roll lifestyle, removed four diamond rings worth $8,000 from his fingers and threw them into Sydney's Hunter River. Richard then enrolled in a Christian university in Alabama. While Specialty Records released a few new songs based on past sessions, Richard did little musically, releasing some gospel songs in the early 1960s.

In 1962, Little Richard returned with an enthusiastically received tour of the United Kingdom. The Rolling Stones and The Beatles, long-time fans, supported him. Richard took the Beatles with him on a tour of Hamburg, and they performed with him at the Star Club. The Rolling Stones opened for Richard and the Everly Brothers before they ever had a recording contract.

Since then, Little Richard has had a periodic career in movies, as well as releasing occasional symbols and enduring as one of the legendary pioneers of rock and roll. In 1986, when the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame opened, Little Richard was among the first of the inductees.

Discography

• 1956 - Cast a Long Shadow
• 1957 - Little Richard, Vol. 1
• 1957 - Little Richard, Vol. 2
• 1957 - Little Richard, Vol. 3
• 1957 - Here's Little Richard
• 1959 - The Fabulous Little Richard
• 1960 - Clap Your Hands
• 1960 - Pray Along with Little Richard, Vol. 1
• 1960 - Pray Along with Little Richard, Vol. 2
• 1962 - King of the Gospel Singers
• 1963 - Sings Spirituals
• 1964 - Sings the Gospel
• 1965 - Little Richard Is Back
• 1965 - The Wild and Frantic Little Richard
• 1967 - The Explosive Little Richard
• 1967 - Rock N Roll Forever
• 1969 - Good Golly Miss Molly
• 1969 - Little Richard
• 1969 - Right Now
• 1970 - Rock Hard Rock Heavy
• 1970 - Little Richard
• 1970 - Well Alright!
• 1971 - Mr. Big
• 1971 - The Rill Thing
• 1971 - The Second Coming
• 1972 - Dollars
• 1972 - The Original
• 1972 - You Cant Keep a Good Man Down
• 1973 - Rip It Up
• 1974 - Talkin' 'Bout Soul
• 1974 - Recorded Live
• 1975 - Keep a Knockin'
• 1976 - Sings
• 1976 - Little Richard Live
• 1977 - Now
• 1988 - Lucille
• 1992 - Shake It All About
• 1996 - Shag on Down by the Union Hall

External link

• Little Richard News