Zanger en muzikant Little Richard is op zevenentachtigjarige leeftijd overleden. Hij noemde zichzelf de ‘architect of rock and roll‘ en was bekend voor hits als Rip It Up en Long Tall Sally.

Richards muziek was te horen in films als Pink Flamingos (The Girl Can’t Help It), Christine (Keep A-Knockin’), Top Secret! (Tutti Frutti), Predator (Long Tall Sally), Casino (Slippin’ and Slidin’) en The Expendables 2 (Rip It Up).

Little Richard dook ook op als zichzelf in onder meer Last Action Hero en een aflevering van The Simpsons. De zanger wordt herdacht door onder meer regisseurs Ava DuVernay, Spike Lee en Edgar Wright op Twitter.

https://twitter.com/ava/status/1259153978798948353?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

https://twitter.com/SpikeLeeJoint/status/1259148330128424960?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

RIP Little Richard. It’s some feat to have made music that still sounds raucous 62 years later. His sound never dated and had an energy rarely equalled. Loved him. https://t.co/fsk3uXhaxF

— edgarwright (@edgarwright) May 9, 2020

Oh no ! Damn – damn – rip @RepSwalwell: Long live #LittleRichard! https://t.co/enIZcgxdlx”

— John Cusack (@johncusack) May 9, 2020

#LittleRichard was a genius, pure and simple. He paved the way for (code for he was ripped off by)so many artists. Watch his YouTube performances to see what I mean. I met him on "Down and Out in Beverly Hills", in which he was hilarious. What a legacy. God bless you, Richard. https://t.co/Mz9UPzwYth

— bettemidler (@BetteMidler) May 9, 2020

The Originator. The innovator. The musician, performer who influenced generations of artists….has left. You were AWESOME #LittleRichard!!! Your talent will reverberate forever. Well done sir. Rest well❤ pic.twitter.com/PsFH4SOUZy

— Viola Davis (@violadavis) May 9, 2020

. https://twitter.com/jfreewright/status/1259144225821769728

Little Richard, who was known for his flamboyant and energetic performances, has died. This old "Tutti Fruitti" will miss his style and flair. Play the keys among the stars now, sir. You will be missed.

— George Takei (@GeorgeTakei) May 9, 2020

Bron: THR