'Architect of Rock 'n' Roll' Little Richard dies from bone cancer at 87: Rolling Stone star Sir Mick Jagger leads tribute to music legend behind Tutti Frutti and Good Golly Miss Molly
- Rock music legend Little Richard has died at the age of 87, his family said
- The star died of bone cancer in Tullahoma, Tennessee, according to his lawyer
- His hits included Tutti Frutti, Long Tall Sally, and Good Golly Miss Molly
- Once open by the standards of his time about his attraction to men, Richard became a born-again Christian and renounced homosexuality
- Tributes quickly poured out Saturday for the late rock king, with co-founder of Chic Nile Rodgers dubbing it 'the loss of a true giant'
Rock music legend Little Richard has died at the age of 87, his son Danny Penniman has confirmed.
The star, whose hits included Tutti Frutti, Long Tall Sally, and Good Golly Miss Molly, inspired a generation of musicians.
Little Richard, born Richard Penniman, died of bone cancer in Tullahoma, Tennessee, according to his lawyer Bill Sobel.
He sold more than 30 million records worldwide.
The singer claimed to be the 'architect of Rock 'n' Roll' while receiving a standing ovation at the 1988 Grammy Awards. 'I am the originator!' he added.
Music icons including Rolling Stone frontman Mick Jagger, Sir Elton John and Led Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page were among the stars who paid tribute on Saturday.
Rock music legend Little Richard has died at the age of 87, his family have confirmed. Star is pictured in 2007
Star was spotted in a wheelchair in rare public appearance in 2017, as he headed to church
Sir Mick said he had 'contributed so much to popular music', adding that he would 'watch his moves' to learn from them while they toured together.
Little Richard was 'the biggest inspiration of my early teens' and his music still has 'the same raw electric energy when you play it now as when it first shot through the music scene in the mid 50s', he added.
Sir Elton hailed Little Richard as 'without doubt… my biggest influence', adding: 'Seeing him live in my teens was the most exciting event in my life at that point.'
Mick Jagger posted a tribute for Little Richard
Richard was known for his outlandish looks, sporting androgynous fashion that would become the norms for mainstream acts like David Bowie. Pictured in London in 1972
He was a major influence on The Beatles, who first met him when they were an up-and-coming young band playing in Germany.
On Saturday, Beatles drummer Sir Ringo Starr described Little Richard as one of his 'all-time musical heroes'.
Sir Paul McCartney added: ‘Without Little Richard there would have been no Beatles. When I heard his songs on the radio they were like nothing that had come before. He inspired all of us who followed.’
Meanwhile, Tom Jones said: ‘To my dear Richard, you’re a true original, you broke all the rules and you weren’t afraid to show it. A magnificent talent and an inspiration to so many of us.’
And Chic star Nile Rodgers said his death represented 'the loss of a true giant'.
Paying tribute to the singer, Led Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page said that his songs 'pioneered Rock 'n' Roll'.
Elvis Costello urged people to play the song Rip It Up 'very loud' as a tribute to the singer.
He added: 'Then play it again. There's nothing anyone can say, that says it better.'
The musician first hit was the 1955 song 'Tutti Frutti'. Pictured in 1965
Little Richard, who was born in Macon, Georgia, during the Great Depression, was one of 12 children but was ostracised by his family because of his sexuality.
Born with one leg shorter than the other, he was dubbed ‘Lil’ Richard’ by his family because of his short, skinny frame.
Richard was a trailblazer for many of the most iconic acts in modern music history. Acts like Elvis, Elton John, the Beatles, Prince and more could trace their inspiration from the artist - known for his boisterous personality an androgynous fashion.
With a distinctive voice that ranged from robust belting to howling falsetto, Richard transfixed audiences and became an inspiration for artists including The Beatles as he transformed the blues into the feverish new style of rock 'n' roll alongside Fats Domino and Chuck Berry.
His raunchy 1955 song 'Tutti Frutti,' even with its gay sex theme toned down for radio, became a sort of opening salvo of rock 'n' roll's entry into American life, starting with his nonsensical but instantly thrilling first line: 'Awop bop a loo mop / Alop bam boom.'
Following 'Tutti Frutti,' Little Richard dominated with 'Long Tall Sally' and 'Rip It Up' in that same year. 'Lucille' came in 1957 and was joined by 'Good Golly Miss Molly' in 1958.
'I heard Little Richard and Jerry Lee Lewis, and that was it,' Elton John told Rolling Stone in 1973. 'I didn't ever want to be anything else. I'm more of a Little Richard stylist than a Jerry Lee Lewis, I think. Jerry Lee is a very intricate piano player and very skillful, but Little Richard is more of a pounder.'
But if his contemporaries kept the respectabilities of old-time musicians, Richard stunned buttoned-down post-World War II America with an otherworldly look of blindingly colorful shirts, glass-embedded dinner jackets, a needle-thin moustache and a 15-centimeter (six-inch) high pompadour haircut.
Once open by the standards of his time about his attraction to men, Richard became a born-again Christian and renounced homosexuality. Pictured in 2006
A consummate entertainer since his childhood, Richard would play piano with one leg hoisted over the keys. Pictured in 1966 in London
While touring, Richard's lifestyle became the epitome of the decadence of rock 'n' roll. Well before the notorious wild parties of rockers in the 1960s, Richard spoke fondly of nightly orgies in his hotel rooms where he was both an avid, bisexual participant and a self-gratifying voyeur.
But Richard was one of rock's most torn personas and he never became an obvious icon for the African American or gay communities.
While touring, Richard's lifestyle became the epitome of the decadence of rock 'n' roll. Pictured in 1956 in Los Angeles
Once open by the standards of his time about his attraction to men, Richard became a born-again Christian and renounced homosexuality, treating it as a temporary choice in a manner that is anathema to the modern gay rights movement and psychologists.
And while he was one of the first African American artists to cross the racial divide, a younger generation of black DJs had little interest in an artist seen as embedded in the white mainstream.
Richard also enjoyed a successful film career, appearing in movies including Down And Out In Beverly Hills and Don’t Knock The Rock.
In 2002 he announced his retirement from live performing, although he continued to appear on television.
'God Bless Little Richard,' said a post on the Twitter page of late musician Roy Orbison. 'The great Rock 'N' Roll Hero has died today. Earth's loss. Heaven's Gain.' The artist's son also took to Twitter to offer his remarks about the two music icons.
Tributes quickly poured out Saturday for the late rock king, with co-founder of Chic Nile Rodgers dubbing it 'the loss of a true giant'. He is pictured at the NMAAM's Celebration Of Legends in Nashville in 2016, one of his last public appearances
Little Richard seen in one public sightings as he attended church in 2017
Viola Davis: 'The Originator. The innovator. The musician, performer who influenced generations of artists....has left. You were AWESOME #LittleRichard!!! Your talent will reverberate forever. Well done sir. Rest well'
'God Bless Little Richard,' Roy Orbison's page said on Twitter. 'The great Rock 'N' Roll Hero has died today. Earth's loss. Heaven's Gain'
The artist's son also took to Twitter to offer his remarks about the two music icons, who have both passed
Bette Midler said: '#LittleRichard was a genius, pure and simple. He paved the way for (code for he was ripped off by)so many artists. Watch his YouTube performances to see what I mean. I met him on 'Down and Out in Beverly Hills', in which he was hilarious. What a legacy. God bless you, Richard.'
'Little Richard, the #architect & founding father of #rockandroll died this morning,' actor Leon Robinson said. 'I was blessed to portray him in his authorized #biopic #littlerichard directed by my #fiveheartbeats brother 'Duck' @Robert_Townsend #RIP You made a mark on the world that will #neverbeforgotten'
Loni Love wrote: 'Lol #littlerichard was a hoot to work with... and as young comic I was thrilled.. when you know the history of what this man did for music.. you try to make your mark in your craft.. rest well Richard...
Bette Midler: '#LittleRichard was a genius, pure and simple. He paved the way for (code for he was ripped off by)so many artists. Watch his YouTube performances to see what I mean. I met him on 'Down and Out in Beverly Hills', in which he was hilarious. What a legacy. God bless you, Richard'
'Little Richard, the #architect & founding father of #rockandroll died this morning,' actor Leon Robinson said. 'I was blessed to portray him in his authorized #biopic #littlerichard directed by my #fiveheartbeats brother 'Duck' @Robert_Townsend #RIP You made a mark on the world that will #neverbeforgotten'
Loni Love: 'Lol #littlerichard was a hoot to work with... and as young comic I was thrilled.. when you know the history of what this man did for music.. you try to make your mark in your craft.. rest well Richard...
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