10 Things You Didn't Know About Little Richard

Little Richard is known for his bold showmanship and signature sass on stage. He's broken barriers, reinvented himself over and over again, and continues to influence generations of music fans. Here's a few facts that you might not know about one of Rock 'n' Roll's founding fathers:

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Little Richard's real name is Richard Wayne Penniman. He is one of TWELVE children.

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“Tutti Frutti” was a dirty ditty.

Little Richard used to sing the song as: “Tutti Frutti, Good Bootie!” (you can imagine the rest...)

When Richard signed to Specialty Records, he recorded the highly suggestive song with cleaned up lyrics, and in 1955 a hit (and a young star) was born!

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MANY artists have covered "Tutti Frutti," including Little Richard's contemporary, Elvis Presley.

Some of the more....unlikely artists have included:

Pat Boone, rockers MC5, WWF Wrestler "Mean" Gene Okerlund, Sting, and even the California Raisins.

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Superstar Fats Domino was supposed to perform the title song for 1956 movie The Girl Can’t Help It starring Jayne Mansfield.

Instead producers took a chance on a young, rising star. Needless to say, Little Richard stole the show!

Here’s Richard's screen test for the film:

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In the late '50s, Little Richard left the dazzle of the pop music business to pursue a life in the ministry, recording gospel records and even starting the Little Richard Evangelistic Team, touring across the country to preach.

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beatlesource.com / Via beatlesource.com

The Beatles were Little Richard's opening act.

It's no secret that Paul McCartney has always been a big fan of Richard's. The Beatles would perform several of the rocker's hits at their shows (and on record), including, most famously "Long Tall Sally" (Sir Paul does an excellent Little Richard impression).

It must have been a thrill for the young quartet to go on tour with one of their heroes. About a year after these European dates, Beatlemania hit hard.

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Before he was a guitar god, Jimi Hendrix was a session musician for Little Richard.

In 1964, Richard recorded "I Don't Know What You've Got (But It's Got Me)." Listen closely to the guitars - that's all Jimi. And backing on keys is none other than the incredible Billy Preston.

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Little Richard has made over 20 cameos on TV and film over the years.

Some of his more memorable appearances include spots on: Christmas at Pee Wee's Playhouse, Full House, Last Action Hero, Blossom, and Baywatch.

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Little Richard and James Brown were besties.

In the early days, Brown even filled in for Richard at some shows. According to Vulture:

When Little Richard had his hit “Tutti Frutti,” he went to Los Angeles, leaving several weeks of commitments open around the South. They shared the same agent, so James Brown filled in as Little Richard. At a show in Alabama they knew it wasn’t him, and chanted, “We want Richard!” Brown rose to the challenge, doing backflips around the stage until they no longer cared that he was an impostor.

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Little Richard was among the first inductees into the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame, during its premiere ceremony in 1986.

In 2010, his master of "Tutti Frutti" was added to the Library of Congress' National Recording Registry because the "unique vocalizing over the irresistible beat announced a new era in music."

Here he is at the 1988 GRAMMYs, being sassy as a presenter.