“To me, Little Richard was a person that was able to focus a certain physical, anarchistic, and spiritual energy into a form which we call rock”
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Little Richard
Richard Wayne Penniman, better known by his stage name Little Richard, was an American singer-songwriter and pianist. He was an influential figure in popular music and culture for seven decades. Referred to as the "Architect of Rock and Roll", Richard's most celebrated work dates from the mid-1950s, when his charismatic showmanship and dynamic music, characterized by frenetic piano playing, poundi…
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entertainment · American musician and songwriter (1932–2020) · singer · pianist · songwriter · priest · recording artist · composer · musician · actor · also Little Richard, Richard Wayne Penniman, Richard, Richard Penniman
Born 5 December 1932 · Died 9 May 2020 · Q82222
171 published statements · 0 followers
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2026· 3 entries
“own drug addiction made him wildly unpredictable. Richard acknowledged that he and Williams were”
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Public attention spiked: 9,653 Wikipedia readers in one day, 4.1× the usual 2,336, with 0 article edits.
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2023· 2 entries
The Guardian: Little Richard: I Am Everything review – thrilling documentary about the rock’n’roll pioneer
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The Guardian: Little Richard: I Am Everything review – irresistible tribute to a rock’n’roll genius
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2022· 1 entry
The Guardian: Art Rupe, label owner who helped launch Little Richard and Sam Cooke, dies at 104
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2020· 14 entries
The Guardian: Little Richard remembered by Bootsy Collins
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Released album “Southern Child”.
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Snopes rated the claim “A video clip shows a 10-year-old Little Richard playing a boogie-woogie piano piece.” Miscaptioned.
Shown as reported and rated by a fact checker, not as an established fact.
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The Guardian: Too black, too queer, too holy: why Little Richard never truly got his dues
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The Guardian: The Magnificent One: how Little Richard's style shaped David Bowie, Prince and Elton John
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The Guardian: Little Richard obituary
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The Guardian: 'He hit us like a bolt of lightning': stars pay tribute to Little Richard
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The Guardian: 'It's really all I know': a look back at Little Richard's most memorable hits – video obituary
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The Guardian: Little Richard, rock'n'roll pioneer, dies aged 87
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The Guardian: Little Richard: an ultra-sexual force of anti-nature
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The Guardian: Little Richard – a life in pictures
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Died 2020-05-09.
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“A lot of songs I sang to crowds to get their reaction. That's how I knew they'd hit.”
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- #undated
- #lang:en
“I came from a family where my people didn't like rhythm and blues. Bing Crosby - "Pennies from Heaven" - Ella Fitzgerald, was all I heard.”
- #wikiquote
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- #undated
- #lang:en
2019· 2 entries
Richard addressed the audience after appearing to receive the Distinguished Artist Award at the 2019 Tennessee Governor's Arts Awards at the Governor's Residence in Nashville, Tennessee
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Won award: 2019 (2019).
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2017· 1 entry
Richard participated in a television interview for the Christian media ministry, Three Angels Broadcasting Network, appearing in a wheelchair, clean-shaven, without make-up, dressed in a blue paisley coat and tie, where
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2016· 5 entries
The Guardian: Little Richard denies claims that he’s 'clinging to life'
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“not only is my family not gathering around me because I”
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“he is not in the best of health so I ask all the Funkateers to lift him up.”
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“Jesus had something for me. He brought me through.”
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A new CD was released on Hitman Records, California (I'm Comin') with released and previously unreleased material from the 1970s, including an a cappella version of his 1975 single release, "Try to Help Your Brother"
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2015· 1 entry
Richard received a Rhapsody & Rhythm Award from the National Museum of African American Music
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2013· 3 entries
Get close to the Lord." In 2013, Richard elaborated on his spiritual philosophies, stating "God talked to me the other night.
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- #life
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Richard elaborated on his spiritual philosophies, stating "God talked to me the other night
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“I am done, in a sense, because I don”
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2012· 1 entry
“I know this is not Church, but get close to the Lord. The world is getting close to the end. Get close to the Lord.”
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2009· 4 entries
Released album “Tutti Frutti Reloaded”.
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To raise funds to help rebuild children's playgrounds that were destroyed by Hurricane Katrina, Richard asked guest of honor Fats Domino to pray with him and others
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Which stated that his "unique vocalizing over the irresistible beat announced a new era in music
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Richard was Inducted into The Louisiana Music Hall Of Fame in a concert in New Orleans
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2007· 1 entry
Mojo Magazine referred to Richard as "bisexual"
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2006· 3 entries
In one ceremony, Richard wedded twenty couples who won a contest
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In 2006, in one ceremony, Richard wedded twenty couples who won a contest.
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Little Richard was featured in a popular GEICO advertisement
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2002· 1 entry
Richard contributed to the Johnny Cash tribute album, Kindred Spirits: A Tribute to the Songs of Johnny Cash
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2000· 3 entries
“I figure if being called a sissy would make me famous, let them say what they want to.”
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Richard's life was dramatized for the biographical film Little Richard, which focused on his early years, including his heyday, his religious conversion and his return to secular music in the early 1960s
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Richard told Jet magazine, "I figure if being called a sissy would make me famous, let them say what they want to
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1996· 3 entries
Released album “Le Meilleur De Little Richard”.
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Released album “Jazz & Blues Collection 57: Little Richard”.
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Released album “Little Richard, Vol. 2: Shag On Down by the Union Hall”.
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1995· 5 entries
Richard told Penthouse that he always knew he was gay, saying "I've been gay all my life"
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Released album “The Very Best Of...”.
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Released album “Greatest Songs: Legendary Artist Series”.
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Released album “Tutti Frutti”.
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Released album “Little Richard Sings the Gospel”.
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1994· 3 entries
Richard sang the theme song to the award-winning PBS Kids and TLC animated television series The Magic School Bus
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Released album “Ooh My Soul!”.
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Released album “The Great Little Richard”.
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1993· 5 entries
Awarded Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award (1993).
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Released album “Little Richard Collection”.
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Released album “King of Rock'n Roll”.
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Released album “Gold”.
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Released album “Flashin' Little Richard: 25 Alternative Takes”.
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1992· 9 entries
Released album “Shake It All About”.
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Released album “Little Richard Meets Masayoshi Takanaka”.
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Released album “Long Tall Sally”.
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Released his final album, Little Richard Meets Masayoshi Takanaka, featuring members of Richard's touring band
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Released album “The World of Little Richard: Long Tall Sally”.
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Released album “His Greatest Hits”.
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Released album “The Wildest!”.
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Released album “The Giants of Rock & Roll, Volume 1”.
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Released album “The Boy Can't Help It”.
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1991· 5 entries
Released album “Greatest Hits”.
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Released album “Grandes Del Rock’n’Roll”.
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Appeared the home video Detonator Videoaction 1991 by the hair metal band Ratt, and the same year, he was one of the featured performers on the hit single and video "Voices That Care" that was produced to boost the mo
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Released album “27 Track Collection”.
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Released album “The Fabulous”.
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1990· 3 entries
Richard contributed a spoken-word rap on Living Colour's hit song, "Elvis Is Dead", from their album Time's Up
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Released album “His 3 Original Specialty Albums on 3 CDs”.
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Released album “Good Golly Miss Molly”.
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1989· 7 entries
Released album “The Formative Years 1951-53”.
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Released album “Rock ’n’ Roll «Black»”.
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Richard provided rhythmic preaching and background vocals on the extended live version of the U2–B
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Released album “The Collection”.
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Released album “Heroes of Rock'n Roll”.
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Released album “Good Golly, Miss Molly”.
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Released album “The Specialty Sessions”.
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1988· 7 entries
Introduced a new song written by his guitarist, Travis Wammack ("King of the Swamp Guitar"), "(There's ) No Place Like Home", a slow, reflective biographical Country ballad, which fans believed would become a major Co
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Released album “Ritm’O Rocks”.
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Released album “Lucille”.
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Released album “Greatest Hits / Highlights”.
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Released album “King of Rock ’n’ Roll (His 30 Greatest Hits)”.
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Released album “His Best”.
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Released album “Chubby Checker - Jerry Lee Lewis - Carl Perkins - Little Richard”.
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1987· 3 entries
Released album “16 Rock 'N Roll Classics”.
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Released album “22 Greatest Hits”.
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Released album “20 Greatest Hits”.
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1986· 4 entries
Awarded Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (1986).
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Released album “22 Classic Cuts”.
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It was reported that Richard converted to Judaism at the encouragement of Bob Dylan—but "Richard saw Judaism as not contradicting his other beliefs
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Released album “Lifetime Friend”.
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1985· 6 entries
Released album “Early Studio Outtakes”.
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On The South Bank Show, Richard explained, "my daddy put me out of the house
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Released album “Rock Around the Clock”.
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Released album “The Georgia Peach”.
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Released album “The Essential Little Richard”.
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Released album “18 Greatest Hits”.
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1984· 4 entries
Released album “His Greatest Recordings”.
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Richard said that he just played with girls as a child and was subjected to homosexual jokes and ridicule because of his manner of walking and talking
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Richard filed a $112 million lawsuit against Specialty Records, Art Rupe and his publishing company, Venice Music, and ATV Music for not paying royalties to him after he left the label in 1959
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Richard's mother, Leva Mae, died following a period of illness
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1982· 4 entries
On Late Night with David Letterman, Richard said, "God gave me the victory
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Released album “Gene Vincent & Be-Bop-A-Lula / Little Richard (La grande storia del rock)”.
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Released album “Architect of Rock”.
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Released album “Little Richard / Gladys Knight & the Pips (La grande storia del rock)”.
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1981· 3 entries
Released album “Little Richard / Chubby Checker (La grande storia del rock)”.
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Released album “Little Richard / Jimmy Reed / Solomon King / The Temptations / Dave “Baby” Cortez (La grande storia del rock)”.
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Released album “The History of Rock, Volume Two”.
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1979· 2 entries
Released album “God’s Beautiful City”.
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Released album “King Of Rock”.
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1977· 1 entry
Longtime friend Larry Williams showed up with a gun and threatened to kill him for failing to pay his drug debt
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1976· 2 entries
Decided to retire again, physically and mentally exhausted, having experienced family tragedy and the drug culture
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Released album “20 Super Hits”.
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1975· 1 entry
Released album “The Best of... Little Richard”.
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1973· 1 entry
Released album “Right Now!”.
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1972· 3 entries
Released album “The Second Coming”.
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Released album “Friends From the Beginning”.
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As "Funky Dish Rag"; his third try at his gospel-rock tune "In the Name"; and a six-minute plus rocker, "Hot Nuts", based upon a 1936 song by Lil Johnson ("Get 'Em from the Peanut Man (Hot Nuts)")
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1971· 4 entries
Released album “King of Rock and Roll”.
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Released album “Mr. Big”.
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Released album “The Great Ones”.
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Released album “Well Alright!”.
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1970· 4 entries
Released album “The Rill Thing”.
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And resumed evangelical activities in 1977
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Released album “Rock Hard Rock Heavy”.
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And he released the album, The Rill Thing, with the philosophical single, "Freedom Blues", becoming his biggest single in years
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1968· 1 entry
Released album “Little Richard's Grooviest 17 Original Hits!”.
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1967· 2 entries
Richard signed with Brunswick Records, but after clashing with the label over musical direction, he left the following year
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Released album “The Explosive Little Richard”.
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1966· 1 entry
Released album “The Wild & Frantic Little Richard”.
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1965· 1 entry
Released album “Little Richard, the Most Dynamic Entertainer of the Generation: His Greatest Hits”.
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1964· 3 entries
Released album “Little Richard Is Back (and There’s a Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On!)”.
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Released album “Little Richard Sings”.
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Now openly re-embracing rock and roll, Richard released "Bama Lama Bama Loo" on Specialty Records
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1963· 2 entries
Released album “Little Richard Sings Gospel”.
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Released album “Little Richard! Clap Your Hands! Sings!”.
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1962· 3 entries
Concert promoter Don Arden persuaded Little Richard to tour Europe after telling him his records were selling well there
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After a five-year period during which Richard abandoned rock and roll music for born-again Christianity, concert promoter Don Arden persuaded him to tour Europe
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Richard was arrested for spying on men urinating in toilets at a Trailways bus station in Long Beach, California
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1961· 2 entries
Where he eventually released King of the Gospel Singers, in 1962, produced by Quincy Jones, who later remarked that Richard's vocals impressed him more than any other vocalist he had worked with
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Released album “It's Real: The King of the Gospel Singers”.
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1960· 3 entries
Released album “Pray Along With Little Richard Vol. 1: I’ll Never Walk Alone”.
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Released album “His Biggest Hits”.
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Released album “Pray Along With Little Richard Vol. 2: I Believe...”.
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1959· 1 entry
Richard had scored a total of nine top-40 pop singles, as well as seventeen top-40 R&B singles
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1958· 3 entries
Released album “Little Richard”.
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Released album “The Fabulous Little Richard”.
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Richard formed the Little Richard Evangelistic Team, traveling across the country to preach
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1957· 4 entries
Released album “Here’s Little Richard”.
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Released album “50 Greatest Hits”.
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Richard enrolled at Oakwood College in Huntsville, Alabama, a mostly black Seventh-day Adventist (SDA) college, to study theology
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Richard left Oakwood College after exposing himself to a male student
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1956· 4 entries
Richard performed at the twelfth Cavalcade of Jazz, held at Wrigley Field in Los Angeles, which was produced by Leon Hefflin, Sr
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Won award: 1956 (1956).
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“s story and explained how his 1956 tune”
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With five of them also charting in the UK, including "Slippin' and Slidin'", "Rip It Up", "Ready Teddy", "The Girl Can't Help It" and "Lucille"
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1955· 1 entry
And he was arrested when caught in the act
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1954· 1 entry
Richard signed on to a Southern tour with Little Johnny Taylor
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1952· 1 entry
Richard began to find success through RCA Victor's reissue of the recordings on the budget RCA Camden label
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1950· 1 entry
Richard joined his first musical band, Buster Brown's Orchestra, where Brown named him Little Richard
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1949· 1 entry
Began performing in Doctor Nubillo's traveling show
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1932· 2 entries
The third of twelve children of Leva Mae (née Stewart) and Charles "Bud" Penniman
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Born 1932-12-05.
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