Macon's Little Richard Dies at 87

One of Georgia’s most iconic musicians, Richard Wayne Penniman, better known as Little Richard, has died at age 87.Macon's Little Richard Dies at 87

He was born in Macon on Dec. 5, 1932, and died Saturday in Nashville.

FEATURE: Macon Remembers Hometown Music Icon Little Richard

He grew up singing gospel in the Pentecostal church. His big break came in September of 1955, when he recorded “Tutti Fruitti.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F13JNjpNW6c

His style influenced countless musicians, including Kate Pierson of the B-52s, which was formed in Athens, Georgia.

Pierson talked with GPB's On Second Thought in 2016 about her love of the song, “Tutti Fruitti."

"That's one of those where you can say the lyrics are genuous in their simplicity," she said. "It is in some ways nonsense, but in other ways it is the most profound thing you could ever sing ... Nobody could sing like Little Richard. He's one of a kind."

Kate Pierson of the B-52's says one of her favorite Georgia songs is Little Richard's "Tutti Frutti"

Every program I’m on I say, ‘Little Richard is from Macon, Georgia,’ ” he said in 2017, according to The Macon Telegraph. “I love Macon. I love it better than anywhere I’ve ever been in my life.”

At 13, he moved in with a family, Ann and Johnny Johnson, who ran Miss Anne’s Tic Toc, where he first performed. Miss Anne’s Tic Toc is now Tic Toc Room, a fine dining restaurant in Downtown Macon, according to the city's tourism website.

In 2018, GPB produced a documentary featuring interviews and live performances of Macon’s past and present music heritage including Little Richard and many others. 

"You know, I wanted the people out here in television land to know I am the originator, I am the innovator, I am the architect of rock and roll," Little Richard said. "I am the beginnin' of it. Before me, it wasn't any."