A native of Macon and the architect of rock ‘n’ roll, Little Richard died Saturday iin Tullahoma, Tennessee, more than 70 miles southeast of Nashville. Reports on Saturday indicated the cause of death was bone cancer. He was 87.
The world was quick to react to the loss of an icon, taking to social media to share their grief and praise the musician.
Rest In Peace To One Of The True Creators Of Rock And Roll. This Is The Commercial I Directed With Little Richard And Michael Jordan, 1991. pic.twitter.com/51bEV1eYKB
— Spike Lee (@SpikeLeeJoint) May 9, 2020
From 'Tutti Frutti' to 'Long Tall Sally' to 'Good Golly, Miss Molly' to 'Lucille', Little Richard came screaming into my life when I was a teenager. I owe a lot of what I do to Little Richard and his style; and he knew it. He would say, 'I taught Paul everything he knows'. pic.twitter.com/96bOzphhs8
— Paul McCartney (@PaulMcCartney) May 10, 2020
I will NEVER forget this, a true original. ♥️ #LittleRichard #WhyDoFoolsFallInLove pic.twitter.com/Pek3XoHmfi
— Halle Berry (@halleberry) May 10, 2020
The inventor, the architect, the king and the queen of rock’n roll... Rest in peace legend #LittleRichard pic.twitter.com/JLE8O1PsMp
— Quentin Quarantino (@erethismmercury) May 10, 2020
With his exuberance, his creativity, and his refusal to be anything other than himself, Little Richard laid the foundation for generations of artists to follow. We are so lucky to have had him. Sending all my love to his family and friends today.
— Michelle Obama (@MichelleObama) May 9, 2020
So sad to hear that my old friend Little Richard has passed. There will never be another!!! He was the true spirit of Rock’n Roll! pic.twitter.com/yU1EJmjejU
— Keith Richards (@officialKeef) May 9, 2020
God bless little Richard one of my all-time musical heroes. Peace and love to all his family. 😎✌️🌟❤️🎵🎶💕☮️ pic.twitter.com/H2lzKbX3tm
— #RingoStarr (@ringostarrmusic) May 9, 2020
One of the coolest riffs The best backbeat in the world Little Richard was an immense inspiration for me, love the man #riplittlerichard - Lucille (1957) [Long Version, High Quality Sound] https://t.co/VIAVy7boDF via @YouTube
— Dave Davies (@davedavieskinks) May 9, 2020
A couple weeks ago I randomly decided to read up on the legendary Little Richard on wiki. I learned then about how he developed The Beatles and saved The Rolling Stones pic.twitter.com/lUEvYG1Mew
— Chance The Rapper (@chancetherapper) May 9, 2020
In Memoriam:
— The Go-Go's (@officialgogos) May 9, 2020
Little Richard 12/5/32 - 5/9/20
1/30/95: #thegogos perform with #LittleRichard at the 22nd Annual American Music Awards in celebration of the 40th anniversary of the recording of "Tutti Frutti." pic.twitter.com/SzvVgPxySR
MESSAGE FROM IGGY: „Dear Little Richard, thank you, RIP”
— Iggy Pop (@IggyPop) May 9, 2020
Little Richard put The Rock in Roll and the Roll in Rock!!!! Thank you for leading the way for piano bangers like me and so many others !!! Keep hitting them keys hard in the big band in heaven... Thank you ... and God bless u... 😎🎹🎤🎶🙏❤️😎 pic.twitter.com/uTRnSx6ozS
— David Bryan (@dbdavidbryan) May 9, 2020
PHOTOS: Little Richard through the years
He flaunted convention & redefined showmanship. In many ways, he invented the role of the rock star before the term even existed. Things feel a bit less wild for the loss of Richard Wayne Penniman, known to the world as Little Richard, from Macon, Georgia, who died at 87. pic.twitter.com/YqnmSaxkwU
— UGA Football Live (@UGAfootballLive) May 10, 2020
Little Richard died today. He was part
— Bill Nye (@BillNye) May 10, 2020
of the beginning. At 87, he had a pretty good run. We’ll honor him, every time we keep those blues chords com in’. He left people like me ready, ready, ready to— Rock & Roll. https://t.co/ETEe36rciX
#LittleRichard was iconic, original and in a class all by himself. Thank you for all that you gave to the world. Rest well my friend. 💋✨ pic.twitter.com/F5eRftdHkA
— Debbie Allen (@msdebbieallen) May 10, 2020
Absolutely heartbroken this morning at also hearing the news of the passing of my bro & friend, the great Little Richard. From our connection through our mutual mentor, Bumps Blackwell, to recording “Money Is” & “Do It To It” for the $ soundtrack, to...https://t.co/jeHNYYobEP pic.twitter.com/aEJEQVuNN9
— Quincy Jones (@QuincyDJones) May 9, 2020
Sing in Peace Little Richard. Bless you! No one had a greater hand in creating Rock n Roll, the Sacred Weapon that continues to heal our troubled world. Eternal Love and Thanks. pic.twitter.com/rWdSOIe7C5
— Nils Lofgren (@nilslofgren) May 9, 2020
Peace and love, Little Richard. 💔 pic.twitter.com/Z9u6pQBLeB
— Susanna Hoffs (@SusannaHoffs) May 9, 2020
RIP to fellow Georgia Maconite Little Richard, "The Innovator, The Originator, and The Architect of Rock and Roll" pic.twitter.com/sk8l9mtx5T
— Rhett McLaughlin (@rhettmc) May 9, 2020
Little Richard is my kind of guy
— Flea (@flea333) May 9, 2020
What a sad day! We loss another icon! Little Richard... wow!!! God you have our attention! RIP Little Richard 💔🕊💔🕊 https://t.co/U6t6LjF3vg
— Isaac Carree (@isaaccarree) May 9, 2020
Florian Schneider et Little Richard... Sale semaine pour les gens qui ont inventé la seconde moitié du XXe siècle.
— Sophian Fanen (@SophianF) May 9, 2020
R.I.P THE GREAT LITTLE RICHARD.
— LEO GREEN (@theleogreen) May 9, 2020
When I played sax for @jerryleelewis, one night somewhere in Europe (Sweden?), we toured with Little Richard and for one show I got to play Sax with him, an honour. One of the pillars 20th Century music is built on..... pic.twitter.com/ToytWchOKQ
Little Richard. Hanging out, getting to rehearse, play guitar with him on Tutti Frutti might be one of my top 3 musical all time great moments. He was and will be always the king, the queen, the everything.
— Kathy Valentine (@Kathy_Valentine) May 9, 2020
Rest In Peace: Little Richard, Iconic Performer And Symbol Of Flamboyantly Fly Fashion, Dies At Age 87
— Bossip (@Bossip) May 9, 2020
(Image via Herbert Spies/picture alliance via Getty Images)https://t.co/p1P4PGK4Eb pic.twitter.com/iY6jIt0mP3
Little Richard morre aos 87 anos! https://t.co/lvUO9TIDn2
— Mauro Ferreira (@Maurormf) May 9, 2020
The Mount Rushmore of Rock and Roll:
— EGCollins (@EGCollins) May 9, 2020
Chuck Berry
Elvis
Buddy Holly
Little Richard#RIPLegend pic.twitter.com/2AfL2oyqYk
It’s been a rough week. Rest In Peace to the legend Little Richard. pic.twitter.com/tx7JPDHDgq
— Dream Defenders (@Dreamdefenders) May 9, 2020
Little Richard once played my son in a commercial back in the 90's. I will miss him. We had a lot of fun in Pasadena that day. RIP Little Richard.
— Chuck Woolery (@chuckwoolery) May 9, 2020
Little Richard listened to his own muse, no matter how far outside the pale it took him. And he took his audience along for the ride. Take a ride with our @AJC Sepia Tribute playlisthttps://t.co/CiNwEZineM
— Ernie Suggs (@erniesuggs) May 9, 2020
Sadly, Little Richard passed away today. A founding Father of Rock And Roll, his contributions simply can’t be overstated. I had the honor of meeting Richard in his later years and was awed by his presence. He told me, “I am the architect of Rock And Roll.” Amen! ..Rest In Peace. https://t.co/ceQuNU6pkF
— Gene Simmons (@genesimmons) May 9, 2020
I'll never forget Little Richard saying that he was the mama when he played house growing up. Because I knew the mama he meant, the mama who was not just the nurturer, but also the choreographer, the leader of the pace and rhythm of living. He was saying something profound.
— Imani Perry (@imaniperry) May 9, 2020
About the Author
