Little Richard
Georgia-born Richard Wayne Penniman — better known as Little Richard — is the foundation of rock n’ roll itself. His own influences began in the church where he started singing, and citing gospel as the earliest and most prominent influence on his music. Penniman’s influence on the music world spans far beyond gospel. His shouted vocals would shake up the music of the 1950’s and forever alter it — creating a genre that was loud, in your face, and unapologetic. Penniman’s flamboyant tendencies and somewhat ambiguous sexuality eventually got him kicked out of his house. It would stir controversy throughout his career as he struggled with his sexuality and religious identity. Characterized by his big hair and frenzied piano playing, Little Richard was among the first 10 original inductees into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.