Rock and Pop Star Deaths in 2020

Little Richard (nee Richard Penniman)

Band: solo performer

Position: singer, songwriter, piano player, band leader

Died: May 9

Cause: bone cancer

Age: 87

Distinctions: One of rock & roll's pioneers, Little Richard broke out with his first hit, "Tutti Frutti" (No 29) in 1955 and followed with "Long Tall Sally" (No. 13, 1956), "Slippin' and Slidin'" (No. 33, 1956), "Rip It Up" (No. 56, 1956), "Ready Teddy" (No. 44, 1956), "The Girl Can't Help It" (No. 49, 1956), "Lucille" (No. 27, 1957), "Send Me Some Lovin'" (No. 54, 1957), "Jenny, Jenny" (No. 10, 1957), "Keep A-Knockin'" (No. 8, 1957), "Good Golly, Miss Molly" (No. 10, 1958), "Ooh! My Soul" (No. 35, 1958), "True Fine Mama" (No. 68, 1958), "Baby Face" (No. 41, 1958), "Kansas" (No. 95, 1959), "Bama Lama Bama Loo" (No. 82, 1964), "I Don't Know What You Got But It's Got Me" (No. 92, 1965), "Freedom Blues" (No. 47, 1970), "Greenwood, Misissippi" (No. 89, 1970) and "Great Gosh A'mighty!" (No. 42, 1986); he recorded 19 albums from 1957-1972 and was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1986 as part of the first class.

 

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Steve Bloom

Steve Bloom

Publisher of CelebStoner.com, former editor of High Times and Freedom Leaf and co-author of Pot Culture and Reefer Movie Madness.