Little Richard

Richard Wayne Penniman, known professionally as Little Richard, was an American singer, pianist, and songwriter. He was an influential figure in popular music and culture for seven decades. Described as the "Architect of Rock and Roll", Richard's most celebrated work dates from the mid-1950s, when his charismatic showmanship and dynamic music, characterized by frenetic piano playing, pounding back beat and powerful raspy vocals, laid the foundation for rock and roll. Richard's innovative emotive vocalizations and uptempo rhythmic music played a key role in the formation of other popular music genres, including soul and funk. He influenced singers and musicians across musical genres from rock to hip hop; his music helped shape rhythm and blues for generations.

5 December 1932

Born on the same birth date (5 December 1932): Alf Dubs, Baron Dubs • Nadira (Indian actress) • Nobel Prize in Physics

Born on the same birth day (5 December): Adetoun Ogunsheye • Boris Ignatyev • C. R. Swart • Cam Fowler • December 5 • Eric Etebari • Jacopo Sala • Jim Plunkett • Johannes Heesters • Laura Flanders • Moshe Katsav • Nikolai Uglanov • Osvaldo Golijov • Paul Painlevé • Raquel Argandoña • Ross Barkley

Born in the same month (December 1932): Bill Hartack • Claus Luthe • Dhirubhai Ambani • Ellen Burstyn • Felix Rexhausen • George Furth • J. B. Sumarlin • Jesse Belvin • John Hillerman • Nadira (Indian actress) • Nobel Prize in Physics • Oktay Ekşi • Phil Woosnam