Obitary
R.I.P. Little Richard, Rock & Roll Pioneer Dies at 87
Rock and roll pioneer Little Richard has died at the age of 87. Richard passed away Saturday, May 9th, following a battle with cancer, his son Danny Penniman told Rolling Stone. Born in 1932 in Macon, Georgia, Richard Wayne Penniman was the third of 12 children of Charles “Bud” Penniman and Leva Mae. His father was a deacon, and it was at church that Richard first discovered his love for singing. He became particularly enthralled by gospel singers such as Brother Joe May and Sister Rosetta Tharpe, as well as the animated nature of his preacher’s sermons. After overhearing him sing during a concert, Tharpe invited Richard, then age 14, to open one of her concerts, and his professional career was born. In his early teens, Richard began experimenting sexually with boys and...
