Good Golly Miss Molly!

Today (December 5th) marks rock n’ roll pioneer Little Richard‘s 80th birthday.

Richard rocketed to stardom in the mid-’50s, when his black eyeliner, bouffant hairdo…

and flamboyant performances were hard to ignore. With innovative songs like “Tutti Frutti,” “Lucille,” and “Good Golly Miss Molly,” Little Richard, whose real name is Richard Penniman, earned his place in music history, and by 1968 he had sold an astonishing 32 million records worldwide.

Since the beginning of his career, Richard has been nothing if not outspoken about his contribution to music. He refers to himself as the “originator, emancipator, and the architect of rock n’ roll,” and many musicians and historians agree. The list of musicians who have cited him as an influence includes the Beatles, Rolling Stones, Elvis Presley, Prince, Billy Joel, Buddy Holly, Led Zeppelin, Elton John, John Fogerty, and Michael Jackson, among others.

• Richard was among the first group of artists inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame in 1986. In 1990, he earned a star on Hollywood’s renowned Walk Of Fame, and in 1993 he received a lifetime achievement award from the National Academy Of Recording Arts And Sciences.