LITTLE RICHARD DIES AT 87

Little Richard at Muhammad Ali’s 50th birthday party in 1992

May 9 — The “founding father of rock ‘n’ roll,” Little Richard — born Richard Wayne Penniman in 1932 — soared to fame with such hits as Good Golly Miss Molly, Lucille, Long Tall Sally, Rip It Up, and Tutti Frutti, which was included in the National Recording Registry of the Library of Congress in 2010.

“I heard Little Richard and Jerry Lee Lewis, and that was it,” Elton John told Rolling Stone in 1973. “I didn’t ever want to be anything else. I’m more of a Little Richard stylist than a Jerry Lee Lewis. Jerry Lee is a very intricate piano player and very skillful, but Little Richard is more of a pounder.”

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