Little Richard is considered a key figure in the transition from rhythm & blues to rock & roll in the 1950s. Little Richard’s reputation rests on a string of groundbreaking hit singles from 1955 through 1957, such as Tutti Frutti, Lucille and Long Tall Sally, which helped lay the foundation for rock and roll music and influenced generations of rhythm & blues, rock and soul music artists. He was honored by being one of seven of the first inductees into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1986.

Exploding into the American consciousness in the mid-50′s…”awop-bop-a-loo-mop-alop-bam-boom”, he singlehandedly laid the foundation and established the rules for a new musical form: rock and roll. People magazine said, “There could not have been a Michael Jackson if there had not been a Little Richard.” And the NEW YORK TIMES Book K Review unabashedly stated “a contemporary pop rebel like Prince seems like small potatoes compared with Little Richard, the original wild man of rock ‘n’ roll.”