Little Richrad died today, as his son Danny Penniman informed Rolling Stone, he was 87 years old.
He was recognized as one of the fathers of rock’n’roll and a huge figure for music who shook the world with smash hits like “Tutti Frutti”, “Long Tall Sally”, “Lucille”, “Good Golly Miss Molly” and many more.
He was the inspiration for Elvis Pressley, during a European tour in 1962 the Beatles were opening for him and a couple of years later Jimi Hendrix was a member of his band.
Mick Jagger: “he was the biggest inspiration of my early teens and his music still has the same raw electric energy when you play it now as it did when it first shot through the music scene in the mid ‘50s. When we were on tour with him I would watch his moves every night and learn from him how to entertain and involve the audience and he was always so generous with advice to me. He contributed so much to popular music I will miss you Richard”.
Ringo Starr: “God bless little Richard one of my all-time musical heroes. Peace and love to all his family”
Keith Richards: 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!
Jimmy Page: “It’s Little Richard’s songs that pioneered rock’n’roll. I got to hear him and his band at the Newport Lounge in Miami and boy were they good”.
Paul Stanley: “LITTLE RICHARD Is A Cornerstone In The Very Foundation Of Rock & Roll. An Icon. A Songwriter And Performer With A Personality To Match. RIP Superstar”.
David Coverdale: “Influence & Inspiration on how I started projecting my voice…HUGE…Still Astonishes Me When I Hear Him Sing…”
Finally, let’s just add that he was one of Lemmy‘s favorites and when an interviewer once asked him who his golden god is, he simply replied, “Little Richard, ’cause he’s the best.”
