Richard Wayne Penniman was born on 5 December 1932 in Macon, Georgia, USA. He is widely known under the stage name Little Richard, and has been an influential personality across the music industry in the USA for more than six decades since 1947. Little Richard is a musician, songwriter and recording artist whose music influenced a number of musicians and singers who played music varied from soul to rap. Richard’s achievements have been honoured many times by different institutions, the most important awards being his induction into the Songwriters Hall of Fame, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, as well as Lifetime Achievement Awards from the Rhythm and Blues Foundation, and from The Recording Academy.
Little Richard Net Worth $40 Million
So just how rich is Little Richard? Sources have estimated that the net worth of Little Richard is as high as $40 million, with the main source of his wealth coming from his long involvement in the music industry.
Little Richard grew up in the poor area of Macon named Pleasant Hill. From early childhood he was nicknamed “Li’l Richard” as he was very skinny and short compared to other children. From his early years, Little Richard has had a powerful singing voice, the opposite to his whole appearance. He sang in church during mass as his family was very religious: his father was a church deacon, but this didn’t stop him from selling illegal alcohol and owning a nightclub. His mother was a member of Macon’s New Hope Baptist Church,.and some of his brothers were ministers.
While studying at high school, Little Richard learned to play the saxophone but later the piano, which became part of his stage act.The first real stage where Richard performed was in the club of Macon. In 1951, he signed a contract with RCA Victor and started recording his music. He worked with producer Robert “Bumps” Blackwell and the band of the Crescent City. That was the perfect team which went into the history of music with its successful hits such as “Keep a Knockin’,”, “Jenny Jenny”, “Lucille,”, “Rip It Up,” and many others. Throughout his career he has released 37 singles, 15 studio albums, 3 live albums and a compilation album. Many of his popular hits became inductees into the Grammy Hall of Fame. As well as being inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Little Richard also received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Little Richard was also popular for his dynamic performances on stage, in the formative years of rock ‘n’ roll.
In his personal life, Little Richard married Ernestine Campbell, his only wife, in 1959. They divorced in 1963, but had adopted the son. Apparently, since his early youth Little Richard has been having sex with both sexes.
As with many famous celebrities, Little Richard suffered from drug and alcohol abuse. Various incidents, including the shooting of a beloved nephew and a brother’s death from a heart attack, led him to rehabilitation. Later he suffered a heart attack himself, and due to the preborn problem of sciatica he had to walk with crutches, but the replacement of his hip has been done, since when he used the wheelchair to perform onstage. However, his health is such that he has refused to perform since 2013.
