Richard Penniman, better known as Little Richard, has died at 87 years old.
Penniman’s son Danny Jones Penniman said his cause of death was bone cancer, however he did not say where his father died.
Richard’s bass guitarist, Charles Glenn, told TMZ, “Richard had been sick for 2 months. He died at his Tennessee home, surrounded by his brother, sister and son.” Glenn also told TMZ that he spoke with Richard on March 27 and he asked him to come over and visit, but he couldn’t because of the pandemic. Glenn says Richard was like a father to him. Richard would sometimes tell him, “Not to take anything away from your dad, but you’re my son.”
His representative confirmed to Billboard that he died on Saturday (May 9) morning in Tullahoma, Tenn. of Bone Cancer.
Richard had an enormous influence over the rock genre, with popular hits like “Tutti-Frutti” and “Long Tall Sally.” The Beatles and Prince have even credited Little Richard as being inspirational to their music.
Richard was born in Macon, Georgia, on Dec. 5, 1932.
