1932 – 2020

Little Richard

American musician (1932–2020)

recording artistsongwritermusicianpianistsinger

Born

1932-12-05, Macon

Died

2020-05-09

Birthplace state

Georgia

Biography

Richard Wayne Penniman, better known by his stage name Little Richard, was an American singer-songwriter and pianist. He was an influential figure in popular music and culture for seven decades. Referred to as the "Architect of Rock and Roll", Richard's most celebrated work dates from the mid-1950s, when his charismatic showmanship and dynamic music, characterized by frenetic piano playing, pounding backbeat and powerful raspy vocals, laid the foundation for rock and roll. Richard's innovative emotive vocalizations and uptempo rhythmic music played a key role in the formation of other popular music genres, including soul and funk. He influenced singers and musicians across musical genres and his music helped shape rhythm and blues for generations.

Occupation

Little Richard is recorded as a recording artist, a songwriter, a musician, a pianist, a singer, a priest, a composer and a actor, born in Georgia (1932–2020).

Connections to Georgia

Little Richard was born in Macon, Georgia in 1932. Explore other notable figures from Georgia, historic sites connected to this era, and the full colonial and statehood history of the state using the links below.

Other notable figures from Georgia›Georgiahistory ›Historic sites in Georgia›

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Geology

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LiDAR Terrain

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Conflict & War

The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.

The Civil War

The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.

The Soldiers

The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.

Native Heritage

The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.

Settlement

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The Community

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Rivers & Rail

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Notable People

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Historical Maps

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Finds & Access

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Literature

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Points of Interest

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More notable figures from Georgia

Other historical figures born in Georgia, ranked by historical prominence.

Martin Luther King Jr.

American Baptist minister and civil rights leader (1929–1968)

Jimmy Carter

president of the United States from 1977 to 1981 (1924–2024)

Ray Charles

American singer, pianist and songwriter (1930–2004)

Margaret Mitchell

American author and journalist (1900–1949)

Hulk Hogan

American professional wrestler, actor and television personality (1953–2025)

Rosalynn Carter

First Lady of the United States from 1977 to 1981

Brittany Murphy

American actress and singer (1977–2009)

Frequently asked about Little Richard

Who was Little Richard?

Little Richard was American musician (1932–2020), born in Georgia (1932 – 2020).

When and where was Little Richard born?

Little Richard was born on 1932-12-05 in Macon.

When did Little Richard die?

Little died on 2020-05-09.

What was Little Richard known for?

Little Richard is recorded as a recording artist, a songwriter, a musician, a pianist, a singer, a priest, a composer and a actor.

Source

Biographical content adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. Source: Wikipedia.

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