If Elvis was the king of rock and roll, Little Richard was its “architect,” if he did say so himself. And it’s hard to argue with a performer who counted both The Beatles and The Rolling Stones as opening acts in the early days of the genre, and who later employed – and fired! – Jimi Hendrix.

Born Richard Penniman in Georgia, Little Richard – who died on Saturday at age 87 (cause not divulged) – was certainly a founding father of rock and along with other black artists like Chuck Berry and Fats Domino also instrumental in breaking the colour barrier in music in the United States.

His first hit was “Tutti Frutti,” in 1956, which rocket launched a career that was as successful as it was influential, landing him in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a charter member when it opened in 1986.

Unabashedly gay, Richard was a flamboyant performer, known for high hair, stand-up piano bashing, a signature piercing wail and sexual expressiveness for the times that surpassed even Elvis.

And from hits like Long Tall Sally to Good Golly Miss Molly, and of course, Tutti Frutti, he was the epitome of rock and roll, considered by some its greatest ever performer. His legacy is incalculable.

To which Richard would no doubt reply: “A-wop-bop-a-loo-bop-a-lop-bam-boom!”