Little Richard, born Richard Wayne Penniman, the self- styled "architect of rock and roll," passed away earlier today at the age of 87. Singer, songwriter, musician -- that claim would be hard to argue with, even with contemporary rivals like Chuck Berry, Buddy Holly, and Elvis Presley. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in its first class in 1986. His catalogue forms a foundation for those rockers that followed him, with hits like "Tutti Frutti," "Good Golly Miss Molly," "Rip It Up," "Lucille," "Long Tall Sally," and many more that were often covered by white artists. If you doubt his influence, check out the people paying homage to him today, everyone from Brian Wilson to Jimmy Page to Ringo Starr to this guy:
“I just heard the news about Little Richard and I’m so grieved,” [Bob] Dylan wrote. “He was my shining star and guiding light back when I was only a little boy. His was the original spirit that moved me to do everything I would do.”
Let's play him out with the B side to "Long Tall Sally," another big hit he co- wrote, "Slippin' and Slidin'." RIP.Dylan continued, “I played some shows with him in Europe in the early nineties and got to hang out in his dressing room a lot. He was always generous, kind and humble. And still dynamite as a performer and a musician and you could still learn plenty from him. In his presence he was always the same Little Richard that I first heard and was awed by growing up and I always was the same little boy. Of course he’ll live forever. But it’s like a part of your life is gone.”
