Little Richard has died of unknown causes at the age of 87.
Unknown causes, or just being 87? That’s a good long lifespan. I hope his passing was peaceful.
As I say, he died of old. Thanks for the great music.
What a wildman when he performed. It was mesmerizing, really, and his styling was the inspiration for what was to come. The Beatles flagrantly stole that high-pitched “woooo!” of his. The guy was still performing in his 70s, or perhaps even later.
More of a tribute, I think. Little Richard toured Europe with the Beatles.
Wonder if anyone ever recovered the diamond rings he threw into the river when he experienced his call to God.*
Little Richard was a terrific performer and his music still sounds vital and exciting. Are any other original greats still around besides Jerry Lee Lewis?
*thankfully, he reverted to the Devil’s music five years later.
Actually, the Beatles toured with him. He was the headliner in 1962, and the Beatles were his opening act. From Wiki:
In 1963, he headlined a tour where the Rolling Stones were the opening act, with the Everly Brothers and Bo Diddley also on the card. In 1964, Jimi Hendrix was a member of his backup band.
Ah, sad to see one of the founders go. The ones who scared the Boomers’ parents when their kids put on the Rock’n’Roll. An archetype for many to come later.
And afterwards while the Beatles did live tours, one or another of their covers of Little Richard would be a regular part of the set lists (Long Tall Sally was the closer in the final Candlestick Park concert). They always recognized and gave him his proper acknowledgement when discussing their influences – reflected for instance in Paul’s energetic rockers from the first half of their career, like I’m Down. When the group was inducted into the RRHOF, George said: “it’s all Little Richard’s fault” in his speech.
His lawyer says the cause was bone cancer. (NY Times)
He had a memorable cameo on The Drew Carey Show where he backed up Joe Walsh on Rocky Mountain Way on piano.
Good golly, 87! Such a life. I should live so long!
RIP 
I don’t know of anyone of his stature, but Don Everly of the Everly Brothers is still alive, and Leon Hughes is the last surviving member of the Coasters. Rudolph and Ronald Isley of the Isley Brothers are still around.
“Unknown causes” because whatever it was, he invented it, and did it first.
I went to an oldies concert at the Georgia Dome in the late 90s. There were a lot of good acts. Johnny Rivers, who had a lot of songs I enjoyed, came on and did a rather rote, expressionless set of some of his hits.
Then Little Richard came on. HE WAS ELECTRIC! Just from his coming on stage, the audience went crazy, and he just had the biggest smile and radiant eyes just looking at all of us, like it was the most enjoyable thing he’d ever done; he was just beaming. Every song he did had flair. He made us believe we were doing him a favor; no other act had the same energy.
I am listening to his music right now. He lived a long time I hope I will be around to 87.
For those who don’t know, the original lyrics for Tutti Frutti (written by Little Richard), from Wiki:
IANAL but… oh wait…
“Mashed potatoes, gravy and cranberry sauce…WOOOOO!”
2007 Geico commercial:
More fun. Little Richard & Tom Jones…
