What was Little Richard’s Net Worth?
Little Richard’s Life and Legacy
Little Richard was a legendary American musician known for his wild piano verses, trademark shrieks, and hits like “Tutti Frutti” and “Good Golly Miss Molly.” He is widely credited with pioneering the early rock ‘n’ roll movement and is often referred to as the “Architect of Rock and Roll.”
At the time of his death in 2020 at the age of 87, Little Richard had a net worth of $40 million, which included the estimated value of his catalog and publishing rights.
During the ’50s, Little Richard appeared in several movies, including “Don’t Knock the Rock,” “The Girl Can’t Help It,” and “Mister Rock ‘n’ Roll.” He later gave up rock music to focus on gospel tunes before returning to rock ‘n’ roll five years later.
Little Richard struggled with addiction to cocaine, heroin, and other drugs in the early ’70s, but gave up drugs and rock ‘n’ roll after a series of frightening experiences. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1986, and in 1993, he was honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Grammys.
Little Richard’s legacy continues to be celebrated, and in 2004, he performed at the Super Bowl halftime show.
Early Life and Background
Richard Wayne Penniman was born on December 5, 1932 in Macon, Georgia. He was the third of twelve children and grew up in the Pleasant Hill neighborhood of Macon. His father worked as a church deacon and owned a nightclub called the Tip In Inn. Little Richard was nicknamed for his small and skinny frame and grew up listening to gospel music at local Pentecostal churches. He attended Macon’s Hudson High School and played the alto saxophone in the school band. He later studied theology at Oakwood College in Huntsville, Alabama.
Little Richard’s Impact on the Music Industry
Little Richard was inspired to become a performer after Sister Rosetta Tharpe invited him to open for her show and paid him. He sent a demo to Specialty Records in 1955 and released “Tutti Frutti,” which became an instant hit. He achieved rapid fame with sixteen more chart-topping releases. Richard’s performances united audiences of all races, and he was hugely instrumental in the American music scene.
Richard abandoned rock and roll for born again Christianity but resumed touring in 1962, during which the Beatles opened for him. He released 25 albums between 1957 and 2005 and received numerous awards and accolades. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1986, the Songwriters Hall of Fame, and received Lifetime Achievement Awards from The Recording Academy and the Rhythm and Blues Foundation. He also received the Rhapsody & Rhythm Award from the National Museum of African American Music in 2015. “Tutti Frutti” was included in the National Recording Registry of the Library of Congress in 2010.
Little Richard’s Personal Life
In 1956, Richard became involved with Audrey Robinson who was 16 years old at the time. Richard had made a number of statements about his relationship with Robinson in his autobiography that Robinson has since denied. He claims that he would invite other men, like Buddy Holly, to have sexual encounters with her. He did propose to Robinson at some point in their relationship but Robinson refused.
In 1957, Richard met Ernestine Harvin at an evangelical rally. They dated and then married in July of 1959. Their marriage ended in divorce in 1964.
While Richard had married women, he later stated that he had been gay his whole life. He had numerous relationships an encounters with men throughout his life. However, he had a complicated relationship with homosexuality given his upbringing in the church. In October of 2017, he denounced homosexuality in an interview with the Christian Three Angels Broadcasting Network. During the interview, he also shared his personal testimony and returned to the church in the later years of his life.
In May of 2020, Richard died at the age of 87 at his home in Tullahoma, Tennessee from a cause related to bone cancer. Following his death, he received tributes from many musicians like Bob Dylan, Mick Jagger, Elton John, and Lenny Kravitz, among many others.
Little Richard’s Lynchburg Mansion Sells for $1.75 Million
In 2000, Little Richard purchased a mansion in Lynchburg, Tennessee, which became his home until he passed away. The estate sold the property in November 2020 for $349,000. However, a year later, the mansion popped up for sale again, this time with a hefty price tag of $1.75 million.
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