Richard Wayne Penniman, best known as Little Richard, was an American musician, singer, and songwriter who lived from December 5, 1932, to May 9, 2020. For seven decades, he was a significant presence in popular music and culture. Richard's most famous work, characterized by frenetic piano playing, pounding backbeat, and raspy shouted vocals, dates from the mid-1950s when his charismatic showmanship and dynamic music laid the foundation for rock and roll. Richard's uptempo rhythmic music and unique emotive vocalizations influenced other popular music genres such as soul and funk. He impacted a wide range of singers and musicians from rock to hip hop, and his music shaped rhythm and blues for generations.  ... Read more