404248 42: Singer Little Richard (L) and the Pointer Sisters perform during the taping of "American Bandstands 50th...A Celebration" television special honoring the dance- music show April 21, 2002 in Pasadena, CA. (Photo by Vince Bucci/Getty Images)
Little Richard through the years.
405302 12: Musician Little Richard attends the 50th Annual BMI Pop Awards May 14, 2002 in Beverly Hills, CA. (Photo by Vince Bucci/Getty Images)
Little Richard through the years.
Little Richard on "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno" at the NBC Studios in Los Angeles, Ca. Thursday, Jan. 24, 2002. Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images.
Little Richard through the years.
Little Richard, with Jane Wiedlin, leads an all-star group at the taping of "American Bandstand's 50th...A Celebration" at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium in Pasadena, Ca. Sunday, April 21, 2002. Photo by Kevin Winter/ImageDirect.
Little Richard through the years.
MEMPHIS, TN - DECEMBER 31: Musician Little Richard performs during the halftime show of the game between the Louisville Cardinals and the Boise State Broncos in the AutoZone Liberty Bowl on December 31, 2004 at the Liberty Bowl in Memphis, Tennessee. Louisville defeated Boise State 44-40. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
Little Richard through the years.
Little Richard and Chuck Berry on "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno" at the NBC Studios in Los Angeles, Ca. Thursday, Jan. 24, 2002. Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images.
Little Richard through the years.
Little Richard leads an all-star group at the taping of "American Bandstand's 50th...A Celebration" at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium in Pasadena, Ca. Sunday, April 21, 2002. Photo by Kevin Winter/ImageDirect.
Little Richard through the years.
Little Richard at the "33rd NAACP Image Awards" at the Universal Amphitheatre in Los Angeles, Ca. Saturday, Feb. 23, 2002. Photo By Kevin Winter/Getty Images
Little Richard through the years.
Little Richard leads an all-star group at the taping of "American Bandstand's 50th...A Celebration" at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium in Pasadena, Ca. Sunday, April 21, 2002. Photo by Kevin Winter/ImageDirect.
Little Richard through the years.
Little Richard leads an all-star group at the taping of "American Bandstand's 50th...A Celebration" at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium in Pasadena, Ca. Sunday, April 21, 2002. Photo by Kevin Winter/ImageDirect.
Little Richard through the years.
LOS ANGELES, CA - JANUARY 27: Soul singer Little Richard holds the award he recieved during the 24th Annual American Music Awards 27 January in Los Angeles, California. Little Richard was the recipient of a lifetime achievement award. AFP PHOTO Vince BUCCI (Photo credit should read VINCE BUCCI/AFP/Getty Images)
Little Richard through the years.
SANTA MONICA, CA - MARCH 13: Musician Little Richard performs on stage the 2005 TV Land Awards at Barker Hangar on March 13, 2005 in Santa Monica, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
Little Richard through the years.
LOS ANGELES, UNITED STATES: Musician Little Richard arrives at the First AME Church for the funeral of music legend Ray Charles, 18 June 2004 in Los Angeles, California. Charles, who was known as "the Genius of Soul," died last week of liver disease at age 73. AFP PHOTO / Robyn BECK (Photo credit should read ROBYN BECK/AFP/Getty Images)
Little Richard through the years.
SANTA MONICA, CA - MARCH 13: Musician Little Richard performs onstage at the 2005 TV Land Awards at Barker Hangar on March 13, 2005 in Santa Monica, California. (Photo by Vince Bucci/Getty Images)
Little Richard through the years.
SANTA MONICA, CA - MARCH 13: Musician Little Richard attends the 2005 TV Land Awards at Barker Hangar on March 13, 2005 in Santa Monica, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
Little Richard through the years.
SANTA MONICA, CA - MARCH 13: Musician Little Richard attends the 2005 TV Land Awards at Barker Hangar on March 13, 2005 in Santa Monica, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
Little Richard through the years.
SANTA MONICA, CA - MARCH 13: Musician Little Richard performs on stage at the 2005 TV Land Awards at Barker Hangar on March 13, 2005 in Santa Monica, California. (Photo by Vince Bucci/Getty Images)
Little Richard through the years.
SANTA MONICA, CA - MARCH 13: Musician Little Richard performs on stage at the 2005 TV Land Awards at Barker Hangar on March 13, 2005 in Santa Monica, California. (Photo by Vince Bucci/Getty Images)
Little Richard through the years.
MEMPHIS, TN - DECEMBER 31: Musician Little Richard performs during the halftime show of the game between the Louisville Cardinals and the Boise State Broncos in the AutoZone Liberty Bowl on December 31, 2004 at the Liberty Bowl in Memphis, Tennessee. Louisville defeated Boise State 44-40. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
Little Richard through the years.
MEMPHIS, TN - DECEMBER 31: Musician Little Richard performs during the halftime show of the game between the Louisville Cardinals and the Boise State Broncos in the AutoZone Liberty Bowl on December 31, 2004 at the Liberty Bowl in Memphis, Tennessee. Louisville defeated Boise State 44-40. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
Little Richard through the years.
SANTA MONICA, CA - MARCH 13: Musician Little Richard on stage the 2005 TV Land Awards at Barker Hangar on March 13, 2005 in Santa Monica, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
Little Richard through the years.
Bobital, FRANCE: US rock legend Little Richard performs on the stage of the Terre Neuvas festival, 08 July 2006 in Bobital, western France. AFP PHOTO ANDRE DURAND (Photo credit should read ANDRE DURAND/AFP/Getty Images)
Little Richard through the years.
SANTA MONICA, CA - MARCH 13: Musician Little Richard performs on stage at the 2005 TV Land Awards at Barker Hangar on March 13, 2005 in Santa Monica, California. (Photo by Vince Bucci/Getty Images)
Little Richard through the years.
Bobital, FRANCE: US rock legend Little Richard performs on the stage of the Terre Neuvas festival, 08 July 2006 in Bobital, western France. AFP PHOTO ANDRE DURAND (Photo credit should read ANDRE DURAND/AFP/Getty Images)
Little Richard through the years.
Bobital, FRANCE: US rock legend Little Richard performs on the stage of the Terre Neuvas festival, 08 July 2006 in Bobital, western France. AFP PHOTO ANDRE DURAND (Photo credit should read ANDRE DURAND/AFP/Getty Images)
Little Richard through the years.
Bobital, FRANCE: US rock legend Little Richard performs on the stage of the Terre Neuvas festival, 08 July 2006 in Bobital, western France. AFP PHOTO ANDRE DURAND (Photo credit should read ANDRE DURAND/AFP/Getty Images)
Little Richard through the years.
WASHINGTON, DC - JULY 03: Little Richard performs during the annual PBS "A Capitol Fourth" concert at the US Capitol on July 3, 2011 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Kris Connor/Getty Images)
Little Richard through the years.
LOS ANGELES - JANUARY 13: Musician Little Richard arrives to a funeral service for musician Lou Rawls at the West Angeles Church of God in Christ on January 13, 2006 in Los Angeles, California. Rawls died of lung cancer January 6, 2006 at the age of 72. (Photo by Matthew Simmons/Getty Images)
Little Richard through the years.
Singer Little Richard waves goodbye from the United States boat train at Waterloo Station in Canada on November 20, 1963, on his way back to America. He is to become a minister of the Seventh Day Adventists early in the new year. (AP Photo)
Little Richard through the years.
Musician Little Richard poses at press conference, Aug. 11, 1981, Los Angeles, Calif. He is now an Evangelist. (AP Photo)
Little Richard through the years.
Musician Little Richard poses, Sept. 27, 1984, Los Angeles, Calif. (AP Photo/Wally Fong)
Little Richard through the years.
MEMPHIS, TN - DECEMBER 31: Musician Little Richard performs during the halftime show of the game between the Louisville Cardinals and the Boise State Broncos in the AutoZone Liberty Bowl on December 31, 2004 at the Liberty Bowl in Memphis, Tennessee. Louisville defeated Boise State 44-40. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
Little Richard through the years.
Rock and roll entertainer Little Richard holds his arms out as he greets reporters during a news conference in a hospital in Los Angeles, Ca., Friday, Oct. 25, 1985. Richard thanked God for saving his life. Doctors said the 52-year-old singer is lucky to survive an automobile accident Oct. 8. (AP Photo/Nick Ut)
Little Richard through the years.
Little Richard plays the piano during taping at The Movie Channel Inc., in New York City, Thursday, Jan. 22, 1988. Little Richard will be acting as a host of four segments of Turner Movie Channel presentations by introducing his favorite films while seated at the piano. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan)
Little Richard through the years.
Musician Little Richard poses at press conference, Aug. 11, 1981, Los Angeles, Calif. He is now an Evangelist. (AP Photo/Randy Rasmussen)
Little Richard through the years.
WASHINGTON, DC - JULY 03: Little Richard performs during the annual PBS "A Capitol Fourth" concert at the US Capitol on July 3, 2011 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Kris Connor/Getty Images)
Little Richard through the years.
Little Richard, the rock-n-roll star of the 50s and 60s who was known for his mile-high pompadour, sequined suits and pancake makeup, has in recent years become a full-time evangelist, but now hed like to reclaim his throne as king of rock-n-roll, Sept. 28, 1984, Los Angeles, Calif. (AP Photo/Wally Fong)
Little Richard through the years.
A big hello from Little Richard after his arrival from Los Angeles at Heathrow Airport, Friday, March 2, 1985, London, England. The veteran rock-n-roll singer has come to Britain to promote a book. (AP Photo)
Little Richard through the years.
Rock and roll entertainer Little Richard is seen at the Academy Awards in Los Angeles, Ca., on April 11, 1988. (AP Photo)
Little Richard through the years.
Rock and roll musician Richard Penniman, known as Little Richard, is seen backstage at the Grammy Awards at New York's Radio City Music Hall, Wednesday, March 2, 1988. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan)
Little Richard through the years.
Musician Little Richard, center, arrives at the 1989 Grammy Awards, Feb. 22, 1989, Los Angeles, Calif. (AP Photo/Nick UT)
Little Richard through the years.
Musician Little Richard is shown, Jan., 1992. (AP Photo)
Little Richard through the years.
Musician Little Richard poses at press conference, Aug. 11, 1981, Los Angeles, Calif. He is now an Evangelist. (AP Photo/Randy Rasmussen)
Little Richard through the years.
Entertainer Little Richard dons royal garb as he is crowned "King" during the launch ceremony for Rocktropolis 2.0, an online virtual community for music and pop culture fans, in Los Angeles Friday, March 8, 1996. Richard took part in his first online chat as part of the event. (AP Photo/Rocktropolis)
Little Richard through the years.
AP Photo
This is a 1966 photo of singer Little Richard. (AP Photo)
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