Richard Wayne Penniman, one of a dozen children in a
Seventh-day Adventist family entered the world during the
great Depression on December 5, 1932 at Macon, Georgia.

Influenced by gospel music, at 18 years of age Richard won a
talent contest in Atlanta that led to an unsuccessful recording
contract with RCA Victor. Five years later his screaming vocal
style and suggestive lyric’s to the song “Tutti Fruiti” landed
him a recording contract with Specialty Records, but only
after the words were changed did the effort give him his
first chart success in 1956.

In two years Little Richard recorded fifty songs for Specialty.
“Long Tall Sally” hit the top ten in 1956, “Jenny, Jenny” and
“Keep A Knockin’” in 57’ and “Good Golly, Miss Molly” in 1958.
Among his other chart hits were, “Slippin’ and Slidin’”, “Rip It Up”,
“Ready Teddy”, “The Girl Can’t Help It”, “Lucille”, “Baby Face”,
“Send Me Some Lovin’” and “Ooh! My Soul”.

Little Richard’s flamboyant appearance and performance
on stage set the standard for others to follow, including
Jerry Lee Lewis and Elton John.

Little Richard was inducted into The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
in 1986, received a Lifetime Achievement Grammy Award in 1993,
given a Pioneer Lifetime Achievement Award from the Rhythm and
Blues Foundation in 1994 and in 2003 was inducted into
the Songwriters Hall of Fame.