Little Richard Dies at 87

Author Erica Banas // Rock Music Reporter

May 9th, 2020 10:11 AM

The iconic Little Richard has died. He was 87.

Richard’s death was confirmed to Rolling Stone by his son, Danny Penniman. A cause of death was not disclosed.

Richard’s music, stage presence and fashion have long influenced countless generations of musicians, from Elton John to Prince.

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Little Richard Through The Years

• Little Richard

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  1st October 1962: American rock 'n' roll singer Little Richard (Richard Wayne Penniman), famous for the hits 'Tutti Frutti', 'Good Golly Miss Molly', 'Long Tall Sally', amongst others. (Photo by Evening Standard/Getty Images)

• Little Richard

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  American recording artist, singer and musician Little Richard performing live, UK, 27th June 1975. (Photo by Angela Deane-Drummond/Evening Standard/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)

• Little Richard In London

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  American musician and singer Little Richard pictured, with Screaming Lord Sutch behind, speaking at a press conference to promote his appearance at the London Rock and Roll Show at Wembley Stadium in London, 4th August 1972. (Photo by Jack Kay/Daily Express/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
• Little Richard

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  Singer Little Richard making peace sign and wearing an outlandish outfit as he prepares to perform at Wembley Stadium, 1972. (Photo by Rosemary Matthews/Keystone Features/Getty Images)

• Little Richard

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  Singer Little Richard performing at Wembley Stadium, 1972. (Photo by Rosemary Matthews/Keystone Features/Getty Images)

• Wild Georgia Peach

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  21st November 1966: American rock 'n' roll legend Little Richard, born Richard Wayne Penniman, pulls a characteristic face. (Photo by Keystone/Getty Images)
• Little Richard

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  1972: Wild rock 'n' roll legend, singer Little Richard, prior to a concert at Wembley, London. (Photo by Evening Standard/Getty Images)

• American Bandstand’s 50th..A Celebration – Day 3

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  Little Richard, with the Pointer Sisters, leads an all-star group at the taping of "American Bandstand's 50th...A Celebration" at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium in Pasadena, Ca. Sunday, April 21, 2002. Photo by Kevin Winter/ImageDirect.

• American Bandstand’s 50th..A Celebration – Day 3

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  Dick Clark and Little Richard at the taping of "American Bandstand's 50th...A Celebration" at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium in Pasadena, Ca. Sunday, April 21, 2002. Photo by Kevin Winter/ImageDirect.
• 33rd NAACP Image Awards

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  Little Richard at the "33rd NAACP Image Awards" at the Universal Amphitheatre in Los Angeles, Ca. Saturday, Feb. 23, 2002. Photo By Kevin Winter/Getty Images

• American Bandstand’s 50th..A Celebration – Day 3

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  Little Richard, with Jane Wiedlin, leads an all-star group at the taping of "American Bandstand's 50th...A Celebration" at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium in Pasadena, Ca. Sunday, April 21, 2002. Photo by Kevin Winter/ImageDirect.

• The Tonight Show with Jay Leno-Little Richard/Chuck Berry

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  Little Richard and Chuck Berry on "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno" at the NBC Studios in Los Angeles, Ca. Thursday, Jan. 24, 2002. Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images.
• The Tonight Show with Jay Leno-Little Richard/Chuck Berry

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  Little Richard and Chuck Berry on "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno" at the NBC Studios in Los Angeles, Ca. Thursday, Jan. 24, 2002. Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images.

• The Tonight Show with Jay Leno-Little Richard/Chuck Berry

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  Little Richard on "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno" at the NBC Studios in Los Angeles, Ca. Thursday, Jan. 24, 2002. Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images.

• Taping of American Bandstands 50th…A Celebration

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  404248 42: Singer Little Richard (L) and the Pointer Sisters perform during the taping of "American Bandstands 50th...A Celebration" television special honoring the dance- music show April 21, 2002 in Pasadena, CA. (Photo by Vince Bucci/Getty Images)

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Author Erica Banas // Rock Music Reporter

Category:

• Celebs
• WMGK Audio

Tags:

Celebrity Deaths,Little Richard