Little Richard

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Little Richard

Little Richard performing in Austin, Texas, in March 2007

Background information

Birth name

Richard Wayne Penniman

Born

December 5, 1932 (age 80) Macon, Georgia, United States

Genres

R&B, rock and roll, gospel, soul

Occupations Singer-songwriter

Instruments

Vocals, piano, keyboards

Years active

1948present

Labels

RCA Camden, Peacock,Specialty, End, Goldisc Records,Little Star Records, Mercury,Atlantic, VeeJay, Modern, Okeh,Brunswick, Reprise, K-Tel,Warner Bros., Disney

Associated acts

Billy Wright, Larry Williams, Don Covay, Billy Preston, Jimi Hendrix

Richard Wayne Penniman (born December 5, 1932), better known by his stage name Little Richard, is an American recording artist, songwriter, and musician. He has been an influential figure in popular music and culture for over six decades. Penniman's most celebrated work dates from the mid 1950s where his dynamic music and charismatic showmanship laid the foundation for rock and roll. His music

also had a pivotal impact on the formation of other popular music genres, including soul and funk. Penniman influenced numerous singers and musicians across musical genres from rock to rap. Penniman has been honored by many institutions, including inductions into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Songwriters Hall of Fame. He is the recipient of a Grammy Lifetime Achievement award and a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Rhythm and Blues Foundation. Penniman's "Tutti Frutti" (1955) was included in the Library of Congress' National Recording Registry in 2010, claiming the "unique vocalizing over the irresistible beat announced a new era in music."
Contents
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1 Early life 2 Music career

o o o o o

2.1 Beginnings 2.2 Initial success and conversion 2.3 Return to secular music 2.4 Comeback 2.5 Later years

3 Personal life

o o o o o

3.1 Relationships and family 3.2 Sexual orientation 3.3 Drug and alcohol use 3.4 Religion 3.5 Health issues

4 Legacy

o o o o

4.1 Music 4.2 Society 4.3 Influence 4.4 Awards and honors

5 Discography 6 Filmography 7 Notes 8 Citations 9 Sources

10 External links

Early life[edit source | editbeta]

Little Richard was born Richard Wayne Penniman in Macon, Georgia on December 5, 1932, the thirdeldest of twelve. His parents were Leva Mae (ne Stewart) and Charles "Bud" Penniman. His father was a church deacon who sold bootlegged moonshine on the side and owned his own nightclub, the Tip In Inn.[1][2] His mother was a member of Macon's New Hope Baptist Church.[3] Initially, Penniman's first name was supposed to have been "Ricardo" but an error resulted in "Richard" instead.[1][4] The Penniman children were raised in the poor neighborhood of Macon called Pleasant Hill.[3] He was nicknamed "Lil' Richard" by family due to his small and skinny frame as a child. A mischievous child who played pranks on neighbors, Penniman began singing in church at a young age.[5][6] Possibly due to complications at birth, Penniman had a deformity that left one of his legs shorter than the other. This produced an unusual gait, for which he was mocked over its allegedly effeminate appearance.[7] Penniman's family was deeply religious, joining various A.M.E., Baptist and Pentecostal churches, with some family members becoming ministers. Penniman enjoyed the Pentecostal churches the most due to its charismatic worship and live music.[8] He later recalled that people in his neighborhood during segregation sang gospel songs throughout the day to keep a positive outlook because "there was so much poverty, so much preju