Pioneer rock ‘n’ roll superstar, Little Richard has died at the age of 87.

The singer, who was born in Georgia, Alabama, as Richard Wayne Penniman, was one of the four original ‘founder members’ of rock ‘n’ roll music - along with Chuck Berry
Fats Domino and Chubby Checker and his hits include; ‘Good Golly Miss Molly’ - which originally made the UK charts in 1958 – ‘Tuti-Fruiti’, ‘Send Me Some Lovin’ and ‘Long Tall Sally’ before being one of the stars who would influence a fledgling The Beatles.

With his suggestive lyrics and blood-pumping piano riffs a ‘staple diet; throughout his career, the four ‘pioneers’ would influence the likes of Elvis Presley and Jerry Lee Lewis, before this ‘new’ musical genre would become ‘real music’ a global entity.

As his success soared to dizzy heights, Little Richard, fuelled by his influence of the church, when, in 1957, he publicly announced that he was quitting rock ‘n’ roll to devote his life to the ministry. He would then start to record gospel songs.

His first gospel album: ‘God Is Real’, was released in 1959. But, a year later, he returned to rock ‘n’ roll – performing live and recording from then on.

His importance into the music’s development would never be questioned.

He was among the group of into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1986 and was a recipient of a Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Academy of Recording Arts and Science in 1993 and an honour from the Rhythm & Blues Foundation, who presented him with its prestigious Pioneer Award, a year later.

A deeply religious music icon, having suffered life-threatening illnesses, especially throughout more recent decades, he attributed his life (and staying alive) to a higher power when he said: “Jesus always had something or me.

“He always brought me through”.

He was 87.