Little Richard

Biography

"There could not have been a Michael Jackson if there had not been a Little Richard." 
People Magazine
"…a contemporary pop rebel like Prince seems like small potatoes compared with 
Little Richard, the original wild man of rock ’n’ roll." New York Times Book Review
Little Richard—the originator, the emancipator, the architect of rock and roll. 
Exploding into the American consciousness in the mid-50's’..."awop-bop-a-loo-mop-alop-bam-boom"…
he singlehandedly laid the foundation and established the rules for a new musical form: 
rock and roll.
Born and raised in Macon, Georgia, the third of twelve children, Richard Wayne Penniman 
began singing in his local church choir while still a youngster. He signed with RCA Records 
in 1951 after winning a talent contest and released two singles—neither receiving prominent 
notice.
Returning to his job washing dishes in a Greyhound bus station, Richard sent a demo tape to 
Specialty Records, a fledgling Los Angeles label. The song, "Tutti Frutti," was his catalyst for 
success and led to an uninterrupted run of smash hits—"Tutti Frutti," "Long Tall Sally," "Rip It Up," 
"Lucille," "Jenny Jenny," "Keep A Knockin’", "Good Golly Miss Molly," "Ooh! My Soul"…By 1968, 
Little Richard had sold over 32 million records internationally.
A self-imposed hiatus took Richard out of the industry spotlight, but never out of the consciousness 
of the legions of fans around the world who confidently awaited his return.
In 1985, Richard charged back stronger than ever, scoring rave reviews for his memorable 
appearance in 1985 boxoffice smash "Down and Out in Beverly Hills," a film which also 
launched his hit single, "Great Gosh A Mighty." He was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame 
in 1986 and launched into a pattern of work which has been virtually non-stop, encompassing 
not only recording, but television, films, soundtracks and commercials: "Martin," "Full House," 
"Miami Vice," the 60^th Annual Academy Awards, among other television guest spots; 
a duet with Philip Bailey for the Universal Pictures’ hit, "Twins"; background vocals on the 
U2/BB King hit single, "When Love Comes to Town"; the CBS Records all-star benefit album and 
Showtime/PBS documentary special, "A Vision Shared—A Tribute to Woody Guthrie and Leadbelly"; 
television pitchman for Taco Bell, McDonald’s, NBC-TV, Commodore/Amiga Computers and Revlon’s 
"Charlie" perfume, in which he starred with supermodel Cindy Crawford.
His performance of a rock ’n’ roll version of the children’s tune, "Itsy Bitsy Spider," was a 
stand-out track on the star-studded Disney Records’ benefit album, "For Our Children." The record 
went gold and earned millions for the Pediatric Aids Foundation, an organization he continues to 
support. Disney followed up with "Shake It All About," an entire album of children’s songs redone 
by Richard in a style that is his alone. His portrayal of a rock ’n’ roll Old King Cole in Shelley Duvall’s 
"Mother Goose Rock ’n’ Rhyme," an appearance on "Sesame Street" and a spot on the Jim Henson 
Records album, "Kermit Unpigged" (on which he guests on the all-star song and video for a remake 
of "She Drives Me Crazy"), have ensured him a new generation of fans.
Richard was honored with a star on the world-renowned Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1990. 
Soon afterward, he returned to his hometown of Macon for the unveiling of "Little Richard 
Penniman Boulevard." In 1993, he received the long-overdue Lifetime Achievement Award from 
the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences. He also performed for rock & roll fans 
Bill Clinton and Al Gore at one of the biggest parties in Washington—the inaugural gala.
In 1994, Richard received the Rhythm & Blues Foundation’s prestigious Pioneer Award. He also 
appeared on Elton John’s hit "Duets" album and delivered a high-octane rendition of "Something Else" 
with Tanya Tucker on the platinum MCA Records’ release, "Rhythm, Country & Blues."
Most recently, Richard was presented with the prestigious Award of Merit byt the 
1997 American Music Awards in recognition of his contributions to and powerful influence on 
the music world.
Driven by an incredible, hard-to-match energy which lends credence to his "wild man of rock ’n’ roll" 
image, Richard continues to tour extensively, delighting audiences with 
his unique blend of music and humor.
"Entertaining is a way to spread joy," says Richard. "I’ve come to terms with that and with myself. 
You’ve got to do that before you can begin to help others."

Links

Little Richard News
Richard De La Font Agency

Tour Information

don't forget to have a look on the acurate
tour information section for a complete list
of all shows from 1950 to 2007