Little Richard, Early Rock Architect and Hitmaker, Dead at 87

Little Richard, the high-pompadoured singer, songwriter and pianist whose explosive performances set early rock n’ roll afire, has died at age 87. His rep confirmed to Billboard he passed away Saturday (May 9) morning in Tullahoma, Tenn. of bone cancer. The news was first reported by Rolling Stone, as confirmed by his son Danny Penniman.
Little Richard called himself “the architect of rock n’ roll,” and as much as he loved hyperbole and self-promotion, he was pretty