On May 9, 2020, Richard Wayne Penniman aka Little Richard died aged 87. He was singer, songwriter and musician (piano), one of the most important and influential persons in the popular music. His charismatic showmanship and dynamic music, characterized by frenetic piano playing, pounding back beat and raspy shouted vocals, laid the foundation for rock and roll, but also had important role in formation of other music genres such as soul and funk. For his work Little Richard received numerous awards and was honored by many institutions. In 1986, he was inducted into the “Rock and Roll Hall of Fame”; in 1993 he received “Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award”, he was inducted into the “Songwriters Hall of Fame”, received “Lifetime Achievement Award” from the “Recording Academy”; “Lifetime Achievement Award” from the “Rhythm and Blues Foundation”, and received a “Rhapsody & Rhythm Award” from the “National Museum of African American Music”. In 2012, his song “Tutti Frutti” was included in the “National Recording Registry” of the “Library of Congress”, stated that his “unique vocalizing over the irresistible beat announced a new era in music”. Three of his songs “Tutti Frutti,” “Lucille” and “Long Tall Sally” are inducted into the “Grammy Hall of Fame”.
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John Coltrane
On July 17, 1967,John William Coltrane, died aged 40. He was musician (saxophones) and composer, played key role in the process of modernizing of jazz music. With the spiritual dimension in his music and superb technique as saxophonist, he influenced innumerable musicians from various music genres. Coltrane has worked with some of the most important musicians in the jazz history including Miles Davis, Duke Ellington, Johnny Hartman, Pharaoh Sanders and Dizzy Gillespie. His 1965 album “A Love Supreme” is regarded as one of the best and most important jazz album of all times.