What city and state was Little Richard born and raised?
http://www.rockhall.com/inductee/little-richard Little Richard Induction Year: 1986 Induction Category: Performer He claims to be “the architect of rock and roll,” and history would seem to bear out Little Richard’s boast. More than any other performer — save, perhaps, Elvis Presley, Little Richard blew the lid off the Fifties, laying the foundation for rock and roll with his explosive music and charismatic persona. . . . He was born Richard Penniman during the Depression in Macon, Georgia, one of twelve children who grew up in poverty in the Deep South. As a youngster, he soaked up music — blues, country, gospel, vaudeville — which was part of the fabric of life in the black community. . . . TIMELINE December 5, 1932: Richard Wayne Penniman, a.k.a. “Little Richard,” is born in Macon, Georgia. . . . Sources: http://www.rockhall.
Rev. Richard Wayne Penniman (born December 5, 1932), known by the stage name Little Richard. Penniman was born off of Logtown Road in Yatesville, Georgia. Further Ref. Penniman the son of Charles “Bud” Penniman, a bootlegger, and his wife Leva Mae Stewart. He grew up in a religious family, amid poverty and racism, and it was singing that made his family feel closer to God. His family had a group called the Penniman Singers, who performed in local churches and entered contests with other singing families. His family called him ‘War Hawk’ because of his loud, screaming singing voice. His grandfather, Walter Penniman, was a preacher, and his father’s family were members of the Foundation Templar African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church in Macon. His maternal grandmother was a member of Macon’s Holiness Temple Baptist Church. Penniman attended the New Hope Baptist Church in Macon, where his mother was a member. Penniman’s favorites were the Pentecostal churches because of the music and the
Born Richard Wayne Penniman in Macon on December 5, 1932, Little Richard was one of twelve children. His father, Bud, worked as a brickmason, sold moonshine, and operated a juke joint called the Tip In Inn. Despite the business interests of Penniman’s father, the family was deeply involved in the church. Penniman’s mother, Leva Mae, met his father at a church revival, and Penniman’s grandfather and uncle were preachers. Penniman first performed in a family gospel group that often competed against other quartets in local contests. A part-time job at the Macon City Auditorium gave him the opportunity to study many leading rhythm-and-blues and gospel acts. Sources: http://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org/nge/Article.jsp?
LITTLE RICHARD—the originator, the emancipator, the architect of rock and roll. 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. Born and raised in Macon, Georgia, the third of twelve children, Richard Wayne Penniman began singing in his local church choir while still a youngster. He signed with RCA Records in 1951 after winning a talent contest and released two singles—neither receiving prominent notice. Sources: http://www.kolumbus.fi/timrei/lr/bio.
