The world lost another legendary musician this weekend. Founding father of Rock and Roll Little Richard died Saturday at the age of 87 from bone cancer.
Little Richard’s contribution to music is immeasurable, known for such hits as 1956’s “Tutti Frutti,” “Long Tall Sally” and Rip It Up,” as well as 1957’s “Lucille” and 1958’s “Good Golly Miss Molly.” Richard, born Richard Wayne Penniman in Macon Georgia, influenced loads of musicians, with his songs covered by the likes of artists like the Beatles, the Everly Brothers, the Kinks, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Elvis Costello and more. “Elvis popularized [rock & roll],” E Street band member Steven Van Zandt tweeted after the news broke. “Chuck Berry was the storyteller. Richard was the archetype.”
Richard was one of the original 10 inductees to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1986. Although he never won a competitive GRAMMY, he was awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award at the GRAMMYs in 1993. His album “Here's Little Richard” and three of his songs ("Tutti Frutti," "Lucille" and "Long Tall Sally") were also inducted into the GRAMMY Hall of Fame.
Source: Rolling Stone