Little Richard, High-Spirited Pioneer of Rock 'n' Roll, Dies at 87

Rock ‘n’ roll pioneer Little Richard will be buried at Oakwood University, a historically black university in Huntsville, Alabama.Gerald Kibble, director of Oakwood Memorial Gardens, said the private funeral will be held Wednesday (May 20) and will not be open to the public.Little Richard’s close friend Pastor Bill Minson said the singer was an alumnus of the university.

The early history of rock 'n' roll is a story of segregation -- and Little Richard, who died of bone cancer at 87 on May 9, was a key player in the fight to destroy it.Because of Jim Crow laws, and racism in general, African-American musicians from Louis Armstrong to Charlie Parker to Motown revues traveling through the South spent much of the 20th century relegated to black hotels and black restaurants, denied entrance even to hotels where they were headlining.

Mick Jagger, Elton John, and Bob Dylan are among the plethora of musicians who paid tribute to the late Little Richard who passed away from bone cancer on Saturday.

The rock n' roll pioneer died this week aged 87

Sir Paul McCartney said he owes “a lot” to rock ‘n’ roll pioneer Little Richard as he paid tribute to the late singer.

Little Richard, the pioneering artist who set the template for rock and roll, has died aged 87, Rolling Stone reports. 

There wasn’t much else like “Tutti Frutti” when Little Richard premiered the song in 1955.The risqué song about sex and dancing, helped Richard land performing slots in clubs, and later established him as a certified hitmaker. The track also earned him his first career Billboard chart entry in 1955, debuting at No.

By Anita Bennett

The world is mourning the loss of Little Richard, who sadly passed away on Saturday, May 9. The legendary musician — born Richard Wayne Penniman — shot to superstardom more than six decades ago with his debut hit “Tutti Frutti”, and has left a lasting impact on the music industry.

By Jem Aswad

Musicians and celebrities are paying tribute to rock 'n' roll pioneer Little Richard, who has died at the age of 87.Artists like Brian Wilson, Bette Midler, Nile Rodgers, Steven Van Zandt, Gene Simmons and many more are mourning the loss of the high-pompadoured singer, songwriter and pianist, whose explosive performances set early rock n' roll afire."He was there at the beginning and showed us all how to rock and roll," The Beach Boys' Wilson tweeted Saturday (May 9).

Little Richard, the godfather of rock 'n roll who entertained audiences for more than seven decades with hits that include “Tutti Fruti,” “Good Golly Miss Molly,” “Lucille” and “Long Tally Sally,” has died. He was 87.

"The Innovator, The Originator, and The Architect of Rock and Roll"

Music icon Little Richard has passed away aged 87.

By Bruce Haring

By Chris Morris