Celebrity A–Z · Stars · rock ’n’ roll pioneer

Little Richard

Born: 05 December 1932 · Died: 09 May 2020

With his wild piano playing and shrill “A-wop-bop-a-loo-bop,” he is considered one of the inventors of rock ’n’ roll. Hits like “Tutti Frutti” and “Long Tall Sally” made the flamboyant American immortal. Little Richard died of cancer in 2020 at the age of 87.

Also known as: Richard Wayne Penniman