If you’re one who talks to many musicians for your day job, one of the influential names that always comes up is Little Richard. Whether the artist, who was born on December 5 in 1932 and died at 87 years old in 2020, was a direct influence or one who influenced via a few degrees of separation, the piano-playing singer-songwriter is a historic figure.
For the Georgia-born Little Richard (born Richard Wayne Penniman), music was essential. In fact, he’s described by some as “the architect of rock ‘n’ roll.” Whether it was the Beatles taking his falsetto “Wooo!” or others borrowing from his talent at playing pop mixed with R&B, Little Richard is an icon.
Videos by American Songwriter
So, without further ado, here are Little Richard’s Top 10 Songs.
10. โLucilleโ
9. โKeep A-Knockin’โ
8. โSlippin’ and Slidin’โ
7. โThat Girl Can’t Help Itโ
6. โCrying in the Chapelโ
5. โReady Teddyโ
4. โRip It Upโ
3. โLong Tall Sallyโ
2. โGood Golly Miss Mollyโ
1. โTutti Fruttiโ
More The List
-

Kyu Sakamoto. (1941-1985) Japanese singer, best known outside Japan for his international hit song "Ue o Muite Aruko" (known as "Sukiyaki" in English-speaking markets), which was sung in Japanese and sold over 13 million copies. It reached number one in the United States Billboard Hot 100 in June 1963, making Sakamoto the first Asian recording artist to have a number one song on the chart. (Photo by Sjรถberg Bildbyrรฅ/ullstein bild via Getty Images) -

Picture taken in 1974 in Stockholm shows the Swedish pop group Abba with its members (L-R) Benny Andersson, Anni-Frid Lyngstad, Agnetha Faltskog and Bjorn Ulvaeus posing after winning the Swedish branch of the Eurovision Song Contest with their song "Waterloo". – Sweden's legendary disco group ABBA announced on April 27, 2018 that they have reunited to record two new songs, 35 years after their last single. The quartet split up in 1982 after dominating the disco scene for more than a decade with hits like "Waterloo", "Dancing Queen", "Mamma Mia" and "Super Trouper". (Photo by Olle LINDEBORG / TT News Agency / AFP) / Sweden OUT (Photo credit should read OLLE LINDEBORG/AFP via Getty Images)






