Editing Little Richard (section)

===Health problems and death===
In October 1985, having finished ''[[Lifetime Friend]]'', Richard returned from England to film a guest spot on the show ''[[Miami Vice]]''. Following the taping, he crashed his sports car into a telephone pole in [[West Hollywood, California]]. He suffered a broken right leg, broken ribs and head and facial injuries.{{sfn|White|2003|p=219}} His recovery took several months,{{sfn|White|2003|p=219}} preventing him from attending the inaugural [[Rock and Roll Hall of Fame]] ceremony in January 1986 where he was one of several inductees. He instead supplied a recorded message.<ref name="HallofFame1986"/>

In 2007, Richard began having problems walking due to [[sciatica]] in his left leg, requiring him to use crutches.{{sfn|Kirby|2009|p=192}}<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.jambase.com/Articles/14179/Weekend-of-Legends-06.06-06.08-NYC |title=Weekend of Legends |date=June 13, 2008 |publisher=Jambase.com |access-date=May 23, 2014 |archive-date=January 17, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130117233854/http://www.jambase.com/Articles/14179/Weekend-of-Legends-06.06-06.08-NYC |url-status=live }}</ref> In November 2009, he entered a hospital to have replacement surgery on his left hip. Despite returning to performing the following year, Richard's problems with his hip continued and he was brought onstage in a [[wheelchair]], able to play only while seated.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Little Richard, Founding Father of Rock Who Broke Musical Barriers, Dead at 87|last=Browne|first=David|date=May 9, 2020|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/little-richard-dead-48505/|magazine=Rolling Stone|access-date=May 9, 2020|archive-date=May 9, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200509160712/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/little-richard-dead-48505/|url-status=live}}</ref> On September 30, 2013, he revealed to [[CeeLo Green]] at a [[Recording Academy]] fundraiser that he had suffered a heart attack the week before. Taking [[aspirin]] and having his son turn on the [[air conditioner]] saved his life according to his doctor. Richard stated, "Jesus had something for me. He brought me through."<ref name=healthscare>{{Cite news |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/little-richard-tells-cee-lo-about-recent-heart-attack-20130930 |title=Little Richard Tells Cee Lo About Recent Heart Attack |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] |date=September 30, 2013 |access-date=October 2, 2013 |archive-date=October 1, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131001234756/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/little-richard-tells-cee-lo-about-recent-heart-attack-20130930 |url-status=live }}</ref>

On April 28, 2016, Richard's friend [[Bootsy Collins]] stated on his Facebook page that, "he is not in the best of health so I ask all the Funkateers to lift him up." Reports stated that Richard was in grave health and that his family were gathering at his bedside. On May 3, 2016, ''Rolling Stone'' provided a health update by Richard and his lawyer; Richard stated, "not only is my family not gathering around me because I'm ill, but I'm still singing. I don't perform like I used to, but I have my singing voice, I walk around, I had hip surgery a while ago but I'm healthy.'" His lawyer said, "He's 83. I don't know how many 83-year-olds still get up and rock it out every week, but in light of the rumors, I wanted to tell you that he's vivacious and conversant about a ton of different things and he's still very active in a daily routine."<ref>{{Cite magazine|last=Greene |first=Andy |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/little-richard-denies-near-death-rumors-im-still-singing-20160503 |title=Little Richard Denies Near-Death Rumors: 'I'm Still Singing' |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] |date=May 3, 2016 |access-date=January 17, 2017}}</ref> Though Richard continued to sing in his eighties, he kept away from the stage.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2016/may/04/little-richard-denies-claims-of-poor-health-illness-untrue |title=Little Richard denies claims that he's 'clinging to life' |newspaper=[[The Guardian]] |date=May 4, 2016 |access-date=April 22, 2020 |archive-date=May 11, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200511042056/https://www.theguardian.com/music/2016/may/04/little-richard-denies-claims-of-poor-health-illness-untrue |url-status=live }}</ref>

On May 9, 2020, after a two-month illness, Richard died at the age of 87 at a home in [[Tullahoma, Tennessee]],<ref name="NYT-Weiner-20200509"/> from a cause related to [[bone cancer]].<ref>{{Cite news|title='Architect of rock 'n' roll' Little Richard dies at age 87, Rolling Stone says|newspaper=[[National Post]]|url=https://nationalpost.com/entertainment/celebrity/rock-n-roll-pioneer-little-richard-dies-at-age-87-rolling-stone-2#comments-area|date=May 9, 2020|access-date=May 11, 2020}}</ref><ref name="NYT-Weiner-20200509" /><ref>{{Cite web|title='Play the keys among the stars now': Celebrities pay tribute to Little Richard &#124; CTV News|url=https://www.ctvnews.ca/entertainment/play-the-keys-among-the-stars-now-celebrities-pay-tribute-to-little-richard-1.4932441|first=Alaa|last=Elassar|date=May 9, 2020|website=Ctvnews.ca|access-date=May 11, 2020|archive-date=May 11, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200511012847/https://www.ctvnews.ca/entertainment/play-the-keys-among-the-stars-now-celebrities-pay-tribute-to-little-richard-1.4932441|url-status=live}}</ref> His brother, sister, and son were with him.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.latimes.com/obituaries/story/2020-05-09/little-richard-dead |title=Little Richard, flamboyant rocker who fused gospel fervor and R&B sexuality, dies at 87 |first=Richard |last=Cromelin |work=[[Los Angeles Times]] |date=May 9, 2020 |access-date=May 9, 2020 |archive-date=May 9, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200509185707/https://www.latimes.com/obituaries/story/2020-05-09/little-richard-dead |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://people.com/music/llittle-richard-dies-at-87/|title=Legendary Rock and Roll Musician Little Richard Died of Bone Cancer at 87|first1=Joelle|last1=Goldstein|first2=Alexia |last2=Fernandez|magazine=[[People (magazine)|People]]|date=May 9, 2020|access-date=May 9, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Leopold |first=Todd |url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/05/09/entertainment/little-richard-dead-obituary-trnd/index.html |title=Little Richard dies: Flamboyant rock legend was 87 |publisher=CNN |access-date=May 11, 2020 |archive-date=June 4, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210604061540/https://www.cnn.com/2020/05/09/entertainment/little-richard-dead-obituary-trnd/index.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Richard received tributes from popular musicians, including [[Bob Dylan]],<ref>{{Cite news|title=Bob Dylan pays moving tribute to Little Richard: 'He was my shining star'|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/news/little-richard-dead-bob-dylan-tribute-influence-album-tutti-frutti-a9507081.html|date=May 10, 2020|website=The Independent|access-date=May 10, 2020|archive-date=May 10, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200510184002/https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/news/little-richard-dead-bob-dylan-tribute-influence-album-tutti-frutti-a9507081.html|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Paul McCartney]],<ref name="IN-20200510">{{Cite web |title=Paul McCartney: I owe a lot of what I do to Little Richard and his style |url=https://www.irishnews.com/magazine/entertainment/2020/05/10/news/paul-mccartney-i-owe-a-lot-of-what-i-do-to-little-richard-and-his-style-1933357 |website=[[The Irish News]] |date=May 10, 2020 |access-date=May 10, 2020 |archive-date=March 10, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210310145126/https://www.irishnews.com/magazine/entertainment/2020/05/10/news/paul-mccartney-i-owe-a-lot-of-what-i-do-to-little-richard-and-his-style-1933357/ |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Mick Jagger]],<ref name="RS-Kreps-20200509">{{Cite magazine |last1=Kreps |first1=Daniel |title=Mick Jagger Pays Tribute to 'Biggest Inspiration' Little Richard |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/mick-jagger-little-richard-tribute-996757 |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] |date=May 9, 2020}}</ref> [[John Fogerty]],<ref name="RS-Browne-20200509">{{Cite magazine |last1=Browne |first1=David |title=John Fogerty Remembers Little Richard: 'The Greatest Rock Singer of All Time' |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/john-fogerty-little-richard-996838 |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] |date=May 9, 2020}}</ref> [[Elton John]],<ref name="RS-Kreps-20200509-EJ">{{Cite magazine |last1=Kreps |first1=Daniel |title=Elton John on Little Richard: 'A True Legend, Icon and a Force of Nature' |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/elton-john-little-richard-tribute-996803 |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] |date=May 9, 2020}}</ref> and [[Lenny Kravitz]].<ref name="RS-Spanos-20200509">{{Cite magazine |last1=Spanos |first1=Brittany |title=Lenny Kravitz on Little Richard: 'His Music Sounds Just as Fresh and Powerful Today' |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/lenny-kravitz-little-richard-tribute-996900 |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] |date=May 9, 2020}}</ref> He is interred at [[Oakwood University]] Memorial Gardens Cemetery in [[Huntsville, Alabama]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://pbs.org/newshour/arts/little-richard-to-be-buried-at-historically-black-college|title=Little Richard to be buries at historically black college|last=Hall|first=Kristin|date=May 15, 2020|website=[[PBS NewsHour]]|access-date=September 25, 2020|archive-date=September 25, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200925144246/https://www.pbs.org/newshour/arts/little-richard-to-be-buried-at-historically-black-college|url-status=live}}</ref>