Richard “Little Richard” Penniman, largely considered to be a founding father of rock and roll, died Saturday. Little Richard’s death was confirmed by his son, Danny Jones Penniman, according to The New York Times.
His cause of death hasn’t been revealed at this time. The legendary entertainer, who introduced the high energy of the Black choir to the tenderness of the American Blues tradition, was infamous for his thrilling performances and flamboyant costumes.
Born in 1932 in Macon, Georgia, Little Richard’s dynamic performances embraced androgyny and severed genre boundaries. He challenged his peers and successors to redefine their approaches to showmanship by using zebra-printed silks, sequined-capes, and a charmingly persistent
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