Richard Wayne Penniman, professionally known as Little Richard, a self-proclaimed "Architect of Rock'n' Roll", embarked on his early career alongside the renowned vaudeville star Spencer "Snake" Anthony. During this time, his band consisted of an young, then unknown singer named James Brown, a 14-year-old keyboardist named Billy Preston, and the legendary rock guitarist Jimi Hendrix.
Little Richard's first recording session took place at WGST in Atlanta, Georgia, where he was backed by a local band led by Billy Wright. This session resulted in the local hit "Every Hour", which gained significant airplay on Atlanta's WERD radio station, the first completely Black-owned radio station in the United States.
It was Billy Wright who inspired Little Richard's penchant for heavy makeup and wild stage theatrics, and Richard would later admit to copying Wright's style. With a public persona and personal life marked by sexual ambiguity, Little Richard would go on to make his mark with hits such as the suggestive "Tutti Frutti" and "Good Golly Miss Molly".
Unbeknownst to many fans, Little Richard struggled with a debilitating drug habit and eventually became an ordained minister. In the 1980s, he experienced a resurgence in popularity, securing small acting roles where he impressed fans with his unique comedic timing.
Throughout his career, Little Richard has remained as versatile and ageless as ever, continuing to delight fans worldwide with his extraordinary stage presence and flamboyant antics. Having been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the American Songwriters Hall of Fame, he remains one of the most popular entertainers in the world.
Note: The biography of Little Richard is as follows:
Richard Wayne Penniman, born on December 5, 1932, is a renowned American musician and singer-songwriter, best known as Little Richard.
