Little Richard, the flamboyant singer and pianist whose storied career spanned more than seven decades and helped lay the groundwork for the rock ‘n’ roll genre in the 1950s, died Saturday. He was 87.
Born Richard Wayne Penniman in Macon, Georgia, on Dec. 5, 1932, his seminal 1957 debut album “Here’s Little Richard” featured “Long Tall Sally” and “Tutti Frutti,” two songs that entered the canon of popular music and influenced scores of vocalists and pianists from Paul McCartney to Elton John to Prince.
Little Richard was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1986. He continued to record and perform until 2013.
