Timeline Little Richard: The Architect of Rock and Roll

Little Richard: The Architect of Rock and Roll 15

• 1932 Little Richard born in Macon, Georgia Richard Wayne Penniman One of twelve children, raised in the church.
• 1947 Little Richard sings with Sister Rosetta Tharpe Macon City Auditorium The gospel star hears him and invites him onstage.
• 1951 Little Richard makes his first recordings RCA Victor Early jump-blues singles that go nowhere.
• 1955 Little Richard records Tutti Frutti J&M Studio, New Orleans A wild, cleaned-up club song that becomes a rock and roll landmark.
• 1956 Little Richard releases Long Tall Sally Top ten His biggest pop hit.
• 1956 Little Richard appears in The Girl Can't Help It Film Sings the title song in the Jayne Mansfield film.
• 1957 Little Richard quits rock and roll for the church Australian tour Leaves music mid-tour, taking it as a sign from God.
• 1962 Little Richard tours Britain with the Beatles opening UK comeback The Beatles open for him — he teaches Paul McCartney his whoop.
• 1964 – 1965 Little Richard's band features Jimi Hendrix Sideman A young Hendrix plays guitar in his touring band.
• 1970 Little Richard's comeback with Freedom Blues Return Back in the charts and on TV talk shows.
• 1977 Little Richard leaves rock and roll again Evangelist Becomes a preacher for the next decade.
• 1986 Little Richard appears in Down and Out in Beverly Hills Film comeback A comic role and a hit single, Great Gosh A'Mighty.
• 1986 Little Richard inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame First class One of the first ten inductees.
• 1993 Little Richard receives a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award Grammys Honoured by the industry that never gave him a competitive Grammy.
• 2020 Little Richard dies Tullahoma, Tennessee Dies aged 87.