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The originator, the
emancipator, the architect of rock and roll. Exploding into the American
consciousness in the mid-50's’..."awop-bop-a-loo-mop-alop-bam-boom"…he
singlehandedly laid the foundation and established the rules for a new
musical form: rock and roll.
Born and raised in Macon, Georgia, the third of twelve children, Richard
Wayne Penniman began singing in his local church choir while still a
youngster. He signed with RCA Records in 1951 after winning a talent
contest and released two singles—neither receiving prominent notice.
Returning to his job washing dishes in a Greyhound bus station, Richard
sent a demo tape to Specialty Records, a fledgling Los Angeles label.
The song, "Tutti Frutti," was his catalyst for success and led
to an uninterrupted run of smash hits—"Tutti Frutti,"
"Long Tall Sally," "Rip It Up," "Lucille,"
"Jenny Jenny," "Keep A Knockin’", "Good Golly
Miss Molly," "Ooh! My Soul"…By 1968, Little Richard had
sold over 32 million records internationally.
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