Fans all over the world mourned the loss of the legendary performer, Little Richard, after it was revealed that he died from bone cancer this Saturday. Page Six picked up on comments from the director, Ava DuVernay, in which she claimed Little Richard used to tip her $100 weekly while she worked as an LA waitress.
According to DuVernay, she used to serve Little Richard brunch every Sunday for a year while she worked at a restaurant in Los Angeles. DuVernay told her story on Twitter not long after Little Richard died.
While a college student three decades ago, Little Richard and his friends would go to Aunt Kizzy’s Back Porch in LA and whenever she served him, she would receive a $100 tip against a $75 breakfast.
DuVernay admitted it helped her “so much.” In a statement to People Magazine, Little Richard’s agent, Dick Alen, who worked with him for four decades, confirmed the news of the legendary performer’s passing.
Little Richard, one of the most influential figures in the foundation and evolution of rock and roll, has died https://t.co/hbEsgwrGdj
— New York Magazine (@NYMag) May 9, 2020
In the aforementioned statement, he said Little Richard died after fighting a battle with bone cancer. He was living in Nashville, Tennessee, at the time of his death. Alen added that Richard wasn’t doing well before he finally died, but he almost never talked about it.
According to Little Richard’s Wikipedia page, he is easily one of the most influential artists in popular culture and music and performed for seven decades. He has been described with many terms of endearment, including The Originator, the Architect of Rock and Roll, and also the Innovator.
Born Richard Wayne Penniman, his most appreciated and celebrated achievements come from the 1950s. Richard has also been described as the person who laid the foundation for what was to finally appear as rock and roll, including shouted vocals, piano playing, and loud backbeats.
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Moreover, much of his style was later associated with the creation of soul and funk music. In the past, a plethora of artists has shouted out to Little Richard as a fundamental influence on their art.
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