LITTLE RICHARD

Little Richard (born Richard Wayne Penniman) was a black African American singer, songwriter, and pianist from the 1950s to 2020. He was heavily influential in the creation of rock 'n' roll (rock and roll) and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as part of its first group of inductees in 1986. He was the recipient of a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Recording Academy and a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Rhythm and Blues Foundation. His hit song Tutti Frutti was included in the National Recording Registry of the Library of Congress in 2010, which stated that his "unique vocalizing over the irresistible beat announced a new era in music". He passed away in 2020 at the age of 87.