Richard Wayne Penniman, also known as Little Richard, (December 5, 1932 – May 9, 2020) was an American singer, songwriter, and musician known for his flamboyant performances and personality.

Though his music career began professionally in 1951, his first big break in the music business came with the release of “Tutti Frutti”, a song written by Richard and Dorothy LaBostrie. The song became Richard’s first worldwide hit, gaining notoriety for it’s distinctive and energetic sound.

From then on, Richard would go on to sell more than 30 million records, and release fifteen studio albums.

On May 9, 2020, Richard died at the age of 87, due to complications from cancer.