Many of us posted our memories and sincerest condolences to social media in honor of the legendary musical figures who passed away over the weekend: Andre Harrell, Betty Wright and Little Richard. Little Richard, in particular, who died on Saturday, May 9 at the age of 87, is being remembered and revered as a pioneer of rock-and-roll music. His unapologetic nature and reclaiming of his rightful seat in the upper echelon of legends were largely highlighted throughout the weekend.
Oscar-nominated director Ava DuVernay offered a heartwarming anecdote about the soulful “Tutti Frutti” musician, writing that he was more than just a supremely gifted artist, but a genuinely kind and helpful spirit.
“I served soul food brunch to Little Richard every Sunday for a year while waitressing at Aunt Kizzy’s Back Porch in LA,” she wrote on Twitter of her college job. “He tipped me a crisp $100 bill each week on a $75 breakfast with friends. This was 30 years ago. Helped me so much. God rest his soul.” When asked by one of her followers if she connected with the music legend after she made it big as a director, she said she never saw him again.
During his extraordinary lifetime, Little Richard became one of the first artists inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame back in 1986, and in 1993 he received an Honorary Lifetime Achievement Grammy Award. Rolling Stone, who confirmed his passing over the weekend, ranked him No. 8 on their list of the Greatest Artists of All Time and No. 12 on their list of the Greatest Singers of All Time.