Historical Events  People
Little Richard

Alternate:
Little Richard died in 2016

Current:
Little Richard did not die in 2016

Little Richard died...?

A-wop-bom-a-loo-mop-a-lomp-bom-bom!

Once seen, once heard, never forgotten. 

The trademark screech and flamboyant larger-than life persona of Little Richard was right up there with the greats during the early poineering 50's and 60's of rock and roll. 

2016 was a terrible year for the deaths of many musical icons, including his modern-day equivalent, Prince. Many are saddened when they remember Little Richard dying in that year too, but as of the time of writing (Jan 2019) he'd be greatly amused to hear of this, because at that time he's alive and well.

Born Richard Wayne Penniman on December 5, 1932, he is famous the world over for hits such as "Tutti Frutti", "Lucille", "Long Tall Sally" and "Good Golly Miss Molly".

Fun facts

Few people realise Jimi Hendrix originally played guitar in Little Richard's band but was sacked for being too flamboyant, out-dressing and up-staging the singer. Richard's hit single, Tutti Fruitti, as Number 1 on The Top 100 Records That Changed The World, praising the record as the "sound of the birth of rock and roll".

Richard was born Richard Wayne Penniman in 1932 in Macon, Georia. The"Little" name came from his shorter stature in his schooldays, and whilst initially was an insult, was turned around into a strength. He was heavily influenced by Gospel via his strict religious upbringing. He was a strict tee totaller for years due to his upbringing, and would not touch a drop of alcohol. However, as the trappings of stardom grew heavier he fell into drug use, eventually becoming a cocaine and heroin addict spending "$1000 a day" on drugs. He's had many health scares over they years, all of which he claims he was "saved by God" from death.

In 2016 his friend Bootsy Collins mad a Facebook post which asked for his fans to "lift him up" because he wasn't in the best of health, which, combined with all the other celebrity deaths that year, might have contributed to the confusion.