Flashy Facts About Little Richard, The Architect Of Rock And Roll
Few names mean as much to rock ‘n’ roll as Little Richard. This one of a kind entertainer came bursting onto the music scene in the mid-1950s, and changed pop culture forever.
With his distinctively energetic and flashy act, he became an unparalleled force that inspired countless stars who have come along since. Little Richard passed in May 2020, and the entire music world mourned his loss.
In honor of his memory, here are 50 flamboyant facts about the one and only Little Richard.
1. His Parents Had a Wild Side
The man we all know as Little Richard was born Richard Wayne Penniman in Macon, Georgia in 1932. While his parents were both deeply devout Christians, it seems they also liked to live on the edge in some ways.
At the same time as Richard’s dad worked as a church deacon, he also owned a nightclub and sold bootleg moonshine.
2. His Name Was an Accident
The singer might easily have been known by an entirely different name if not for a fluke accident shortly after he was born. His parents had actually intended to name him “Ricardo,” but someone wrote the name “Richard”
on his birth certificate by mistake. Rather than endure the hassle of trying to correct the document, his parents chose to stick with the new name.
3. He Came from a Very Big Family
Many successful singers are overwhelmed when they first experience big crowds, but in Little Richard’s case, he was probably already used to the feeling. He grew up in a busy household alongside a whopping 11 siblings.
He was the third oldest of his parents’ children, and had six brothers and five sisters.
4. He Was Born with a Leg Problem
Thanks to complications during Little Richard's birth, one of his legs ended up being slightly longer than the other. This was the origin of his very distinctive walk.
As a child, people often bullied and made fun of him for this strut, as those around him considered it “effeminate.”
