# RIP Little Richard **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** celebrity-death\ **Created:** [May 9, 2020, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-little-richard/853470 "2020-05-09T13:51:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Misnomer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/misnomer/32/14897_2.png) [@Misnomer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Misnomer)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2020, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-little-richard/853470/1 "2020-05-09T13:51:46Z")
Little Richard has died of unknown causes at the age of 87. > **[Little Richard, Founding Father of Rock Who Broke Musical Barriers, Dead at 87](https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/little-richard-dead-48505/)** > > Pianist-singer behind “Tutti Frutti,” “Good Golly Miss Molly,” and “Long Tall Sally” set the template that a generation of musicians would follow ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/22080_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2020, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-little-richard/853470/2 "2020-05-09T14:02:16Z")
Unknown causes, or just being 87? That’s a good long lifespan. I hope his passing was peaceful. ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2020, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-little-richard/853470/3 "2020-05-09T14:06:55Z")
As I say, he died of old. Thanks for the great music. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2020, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-little-richard/853470/4 "2020-05-09T14:53:58Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2020, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-little-richard/853470/5 "2020-05-09T15:02:56Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > 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. More of a tribute, I think. Little Richard [toured Europe with the Beatles](https://www.udiscovermusic.com/stories/little-richard-renounces-rock-n-roll/). 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. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2020, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-little-richard/853470/6 "2020-05-09T16:33:07Z")
> [@Jackmannii](#): > > More of a tribute, I think. Little Richard [toured Europe with the Beatles](https://www.udiscovermusic.com/stories/little-richard-renounces-rock-n-roll/). Actually, the Beatles toured _with him_. He was the headliner in 1962, and the Beatles were his opening act. From Wiki: > [@](#): > > During this time, Little Richard advised the group on how to perform his songs and taught Paul McCartney his distinctive vocalizations.[75] 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. ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2020, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-little-richard/853470/7 "2020-05-09T16:58:59Z")
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. > [@Jackmannii](#): > > More of a tribute, I think. Little Richard [toured Europe with the Beatles](https://www.udiscovermusic.com/stories/little-richard-renounces-rock-n-roll/). 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. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2020, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-little-richard/853470/8 "2020-05-09T17:31:42Z")
He had the funniest bit in _[Down and Out in Beverly Hills](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R2Vd-jKS34w)_. RIP. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![SuperNelson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/7feea3/32.png) [@SuperNelson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SuperNelson)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2020, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-little-richard/853470/9 "2020-05-09T20:10:40Z")
> [@FairyChatMom](#): > > Unknown causes, or just being 87? That’s a good long lifespan. I hope his passing was peaceful. His lawyer says the cause was bone cancer. ([NY Times](https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/09/arts/music/little-richard-dead.html)) ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2020, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-little-richard/853470/10 "2020-05-09T20:40:21Z")
He had a memorable cameo on _The Drew Carey Show_ where he backed up Joe Walsh on _Rocky Mountain Way_ on piano. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/qECG_u4uTSA/hqdefault.jpg "The Drew Carey Show clip from [Drewstock]") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qECG_u4uTSA) ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2020, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-little-richard/853470/11 "2020-05-09T20:52:23Z")
Good golly, 87! Such a life. _I_ should live so long! RIP ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2020, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-little-richard/853470/12 "2020-05-09T20:53:26Z")
> [@Jackmannii](#): > > Are any other original greats still around besides Jerry Lee Lewis? 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. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2020, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-little-richard/853470/13 "2020-05-09T20:56:36Z")
“Unknown causes” because whatever it was, he invented it, and did it first. ---
**Author:** ![PastTense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pasttense/32/14550_2.png) [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2020, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-little-richard/853470/14 "2020-05-09T22:42:07Z")
> [@](#): > > He had been in poor health for several years, suffering hip problems, a stroke and a heart attack. > > Richard’s son, Danny Penniman, first confirmed the pioneer’s death. In a statement, Richard’s agent, Dick Alen, said: \*\*“Little Richard passed away this morning from bone cancer in Nashville. > \*\* > “He was battling for a good while, many years. I last spoke to him about two or three weeks ago. I knew he wasn’t well but he never really got into it, he just would say ‘I’m not well.’” > **[Little Richard, rock'n'roll pioneer, dies aged 87](https://www.theguardian.com/music/2020/may/09/little-richard-dies-aged-83-rock-n-roll-pioneer)** > > His 1955 song Tutti Frutti, with the lyric ‘awopbopaloobop alopbamboom’, and a series of follow-up records helped establish the genre and influence a multitude of other musicians ---
**Author:** ![Raza](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/raza/32/213_2.png) [@Raza](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Raza)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2020, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-little-richard/853470/15 "2020-05-09T22:59:34Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![torontoraptor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/77aa72/32.png) [@torontoraptor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/torontoraptor)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2020, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-little-richard/853470/16 "2020-05-09T23:29:35Z")
I am listening to his music right now. He lived a long time I hope I will be around to 87. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2020, 3:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-little-richard/853470/17 "2020-05-10T03:12:04Z")
For those who don’t know, the original lyrics for Tutti Frutti (written by Little Richard), from Wiki: > [@](#): > > Tutti Frutti, good booty > If it don’t fit, don’t force it > You can grease it, make it easy > > These were replaced with: > > Tutti Frutti, aw rooty > Tutti Frutti, aw rooty. > > “Aw rooty” was a slang expression meaning “All right”. According to Charles Connor, Little Richard’s drummer, the original lyrics were: > > Tutti Frutti, good booty > If it’s tight, it’s all right > And if it’s greasy, it makes it easy ---
**Author:** ![RioRico](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f04885/32.png) [@RioRico](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RioRico)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2020, 10:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-little-richard/853470/18 "2020-05-10T10:00:35Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > Tutti Frutti, good booty > If it’s tight, it’s all right > And if it’s greasy, it makes it easy IANAL but… oh wait… ---
**Author:** ![jnglmassiv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f07891/32.png) [@jnglmassiv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jnglmassiv)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2020, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-little-richard/853470/19 "2020-05-10T17:34:07Z")
“Mashed potatoes, gravy and cranberry sauce…WOOOOO!” 2007 Geico commercial: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/r85w6gSFRmo/hqdefault.jpg "2007 - Geico - Little Richard Celebrity Translation Commercial") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r85w6gSFRmo) ---
**Author:** ![saucywench](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/85e7bf/32.png) [@saucywench](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/saucywench)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2020, 8:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-little-richard/853470/20 "2020-05-17T08:04:22Z")
More fun. Little Richard & Tom Jones… [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/hiw9g3mG040/hqdefault.jpg "Tom Jones and Little Richard - Rock 'n' Roll Medley - (1969) (Live)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hiw9g3mG040) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-little-richard/853470.md?page=2)