Little Richard (nee Richard Penniman)
Band: solo performer
Position: singer, songwriter, piano player, band leader
Died: May 9
Cause: bone cancer
Age: 87
Distinctions: One of rock & roll's pioneers, Little Richard broke out with his first hit, "Tutti Frutti" (No 29) in 1955 and followed with "Long Tall Sally" (No. 13, 1956), "Slippin' and Slidin'" (No. 33, 1956), "Rip It Up" (No. 56, 1956), "Ready Teddy" (No. 44, 1956), "The Girl Can't Help It" (No. 49, 1956), "Lucille" (No. 27, 1957), "Send Me Some Lovin'" (No. 54, 1957), "Jenny, Jenny" (No. 10, 1957), "Keep A-Knockin'" (No. 8, 1957), "Good Golly, Miss Molly" (No. 10, 1958), "Ooh! My Soul" (No. 35, 1958), "True Fine Mama" (No. 68, 1958), "Baby Face" (No. 41, 1958), "Kansas" (No. 95, 1959), "Bama Lama Bama Loo" (No. 82, 1964), "I Don't Know What You Got But It's Got Me" (No. 92, 1965), "Freedom Blues" (No. 47, 1970), "Greenwood, Misissippi" (No. 89, 1970) and "Great Gosh A'mighty!" (No. 42, 1986); he recorded 19 albums from 1957-1972 and was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1986 as part of the first class.
