Yesterday, we received news that Little Richard, the self-proclaimed “architect of rock ‘n’ roll” who built his ground-breaking sound with a boiling blend of boogie-woogie, rhythm and blues and gospel, had died at the age of 87.
Richard, whose electrifying 1950s hits such as Tutti Frutti and Long Tall Sally and flamboyant stage presence influenced legions of performers, succumbed to cancer, according to Rolling Stone who spoke with his son Danny Penniman.
Back when our very own Amanda Keller was a segment producer on the Midday show with Ray Martin, she worked with Little Richard on a weekly basis!
“Week after week, we’d get Little Richard on, and I was the producer… and I had his home phone number so I’d phone him up and we’d arrange for him to come on the show!” Amanda explained.
“He was so brilliant!”
