Little Richard
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Along with Elvis Presley, Little Richard helped define the wild side of early rock and roll with sexualized songs and outrageous behavior on stage. Little Richard is an American singer, songwriter and a pianist. One of his hit albums was Shake It All About, which sold a quarter million of copies.
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[edit] About
Little Richard who's real name is Richard Wayne Penniman was born on December 5, 1932 at Origin Macon, Georgia, USA and the third of twelve children. He grew up with a spiritual family. His family formed a gospel group called Penniman Singers who would performed in local churches. He was called War Hawk because of his loud and screaming singing voice. When he was ten years old, he sings Gospel songs and touching the lives of so many people, he also formed a gospel group called The Tiny Tots Quartet.
In his early teens, Richard's passion for the church had stopped. He dropped out of school when he was in night grade. He was later ejected from home by his father, reportedly for homosexual behavior. He began traveling across Georgia and joined a traveling medicine show. He also appeared in a series of vaudeville shows and other itinerant troupes such as Sugarfoot Sam, The King Brother Circus and The Broadway Follies. Along the way, he acquired the name of Little Richard.
While performing at Bailey's 81 Theatre, he met Billy Wright, a major recording star in the late 40's. Billy helped Little Richard get a recording contract with RCA Records. In 1951, he recorded four songs, Get Rich Quick, Why Did You Leave Me, Every Hour and Thinkin' Bout My Mother, which was backed by Billy's band. Every Hour was successful on local radio but the three other songs did not go well. He recorded another four tracks under RCA but again failed to sell.
Little Richard decided to go back to Macon with his band, The Upsetters and sent a demo tape to Bumps Blackwell of Specialty Records in Los Angeles. Bumps convinced Art Rupe to bring [Little Richard]] for a recording session. Art turned out to be looking for another black singer with a Ray Charles sound. In the end of 1955, Little Richard released his first single, Tutti Frutti under Specialty Records. The single debuted number 21 on the Billboard charts. The single has sold more than 200,000 copies. The song also reached to number two on Billboard's R&B chart.
In the next couple of years, Little Richard released a list of rock's greatest classics such as Long Tall Sally, Lucille and Good Golly Miss Molly, all of which became a chart-toppers. In 1957, the music industry was surprised when he announced that he was going to quit rock and roll music industry in order to devote his life to religion. He attended school in Oakwood College, a Christian institution in Huntsville, Alabama. He also traveled across the United States as an evangelist. He also released several gospel albums. In the early 1960, Little Richard went on a British tour. While he was in England, he met a band, which was unknown band at that time, The Beatles with whom he forged a lasting friendship. Little Richard decided to returned to America to launched his own comeback.
In 1970, he was able to return to the charts with his hit song, Freedom Blues. In 1971, he released Midnight Man. In 1972, he released Rockin With The King, all of which was a chart-toppers. However, with his renewed success, there came a renewed passion for a higher life. Little Richard became a heavy drinker and a drug addict. In 1975, after the death of his brother, Little Richard again decided to quit entertainment industry and return to religion. He kicked his drug habit and began preaching.
In 1986, he returned in music world with the released a religious-pop song Lifetime Friend. He also appeared in the movie Down and Out. In 1992, he released a children's album Shake It All About which sold a quarter million copies. In 1993, he received a lifetime achievement award from The National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences.
[edit] Awards & Certifications
[edit] Chart Toppers
[edit] News
[edit] Tours & Concerts
2007 Tour
Mar 07, 2007 Florida Strawberry Festival Plant City, Florida, United States
[edit] Announcements
There are no announcements as of this time
[edit] Discography
[edit] Albums
 March 1957 Specialty |
 July 1958 Specialty |
 1959 Specialty |
 1963 Specialty |
 January 1967 Columbia |
 1970 Reprise |
 1971 Reprise |
 1972 Reprise |
 1975 Charly |
 1977 United |
 1986 Reprise |
 1994 Reprise |
[edit] Singles
[edit] Compilations & Live Releases
 1960 |
 1967 |
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 1972 |
 1977 |
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 1984 |
 1985 |
 1986 |
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 1987 |
 1987 |
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 1995 |
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 1997 |
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 April 25, 2000 |
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 2007 |
[edit] Other artists
[edit] Similar artists
[edit] Contemporaries
