2020 continues to just be an absolutely awful year. Music fans everywhere are in mourning today after finding out that rock icon Little Richard passed away.
The musical legend suffered from bone cancer, Rolling Stone reports, and was 87 years old. Little Richard’s son, Danny Jones Penniman, confirmed the reports this morning.
Little Richard was an absolute hit maker and was a foundational piece for rock and roll as a genre. He was known best for hits like 1955’s “Tutti Frutti” and 1958’s “Good Golly Miss Molly.” He consistently pushed boundaries, both musically and societally, and became an icon because of it.
Both fans and peers alike took to Twitter to mourn his passing this morning.
So sad to hear that my old friend Little Richard has passed. There will never be another!!! He was the true spirit of Rock’n Roll! pic.twitter.com/yU1EJmjejU
— Keith Richards (@officialKeef) May 9, 2020
MESSAGE FROM IGGY: „Dear Little Richard, thank you, RIP”
— Iggy Pop (@IggyPop) May 9, 2020
Remembering #LittleRichard today… Bruce and I were so lucky and honored to have him officiate our wedding back in 1987 — thankful for the memories. Rest easy ❤️ pic.twitter.com/MFU347Ogij
— Demi Moore (@justdemi) May 9, 2020
Little Richard put The Rock in Roll and the Roll in Rock!!!! Thank you for leading the way for piano bangers like me and so many others !!! Keep hitting them keys hard in the big band in heaven… Thank you … and God bless u… 😎🎹🎤🎶🙏❤️😎 pic.twitter.com/uTRnSx6ozS
— David Bryan (@dbdavidbryan) May 9, 2020
R.I.P. King 👑 #LittleRichard Thank you for sharing your knowledge and wisdom .. Hyatt on Sunset …The upcoming rapper and aspiring comedian (Arsenio Hall) met on the street outside “The Comedy Store” the rest is HISTORY 🙏🏿 pic.twitter.com/3CxjbJY11x
— MC HAMMER (@MCHammer) May 9, 2020
Sing in Peace Little Richard. Bless you! No one had a greater hand in creating Rock n Roll, the Sacred Weapon that continues to heal our troubled world. Eternal Love and Thanks. pic.twitter.com/rWdSOIe7C5
— Nils Lofgren (@nilslofgren) May 9, 2020
R.I.P. Little Richard, December 5, 1932 – May 9, 2020. pic.twitter.com/e0ueQ5pJog
— Dust-to-Digital (@dusttodigital) May 9, 2020
Some of us took the time to recognize some of his strongest moments and his impacts— the things that made him who he was.
He had no problem letting you know that he was the architect of Rock and Roll and how pretty he was doing what he did.
Little Richard was a black icon during the Civil Rights Movement (like Muhammad Ali, Sam Cooke, etc) who refused to shy away from who they were or how they saw themselves
He’d say, “I’m the prettiest man in showbiz” or “the King of Rock N Roll.”
My parents thought he was God.
— Tyler R. Tynes (@TylerRickyTynes) May 9, 2020
rest in power little richard— the architect of rock n’ roll pic.twitter.com/x9klQ3Bipb
— brainwash💡®️ (@brainwashxmedia) May 9, 2020
Rest In Peace #LittleRichard ✨ King of swag, unapologetic visionary, iconic fashion legend, the real king of Rock n’ Roll! pic.twitter.com/1X8EJc4ECk
— BRI LUNA (@YungKundalini) May 9, 2020
1988 Grammys #LittleRichard he never had a problem in speaking for himself
R.I.P 💔 🕊 #LoveHim 🥰 pic.twitter.com/E9qcVjFxZd— 🦋Leslie Randall 🦅 (@lesmarjaz) May 9, 2020
Little Richard might be gone, but his presence in music and art will live forever through the moments he gave these people.
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