Editing Little Richard (section)

===Society===
In addition to his musical style, Richard was cited as one of the first black [[crossover (music)|crossover]] artists, reaching audiences of all races. His music and concerts broke the color line,<ref name="nmaam1">{{Cite web|url=http://nmaam.org/events/celebration-of-legends/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150518151622/http://nmaam.org/events/celebration-of-legends/|url-status=dead|archive-date=May 18, 2015|title=My Music Matters: A Celebration of Legends Luncheon|publisher=National Museum of African American Music|date=June 19, 2015|access-date=November 2, 2017}}</ref> drawing mixed black and white audiences. As H.B. Barnum explained in ''Quasar of Rock'', Little Richard "opened the door. He brought the races together."{{sfn|White|2003|p=69}} Barnum described Richard's music as not being "boy-meets-girl-girl-meets-boy things, they were ''fun'' records, all fun. And they had a lot to say sociologically in our country and the world."{{sfn|White|2003|p=70}} Barnum also stated that Richard's "charisma was a whole new thing to the music business", explaining that "he would burst onto the stage from anywhere, and you wouldn't be able to hear anything but the roar of the audience. He might come out and walk on the piano. He might go out into the audience." Barnum stated that Richard was innovative in that he would wear colorful capes, blouse shirts, makeup and suits studded with multi-colored stones and sequins, and that he also brought flickering stage lighting from his show business experience into performance venues where rock and roll artists performed.{{sfn|White|2003|pp=68–70}} In 2015, the National Museum of African American Music honored Richard for helping to shatter the color line on the music charts changing American culture forever.<ref name="tennessean1"/><ref name="nmaam1"/>

[[Ian "Lemmy" Kilmister]] of the heavy metal band [[Motörhead]] spoke highly of him, stating: "Little Richard was always my main man. How hard must it have been for him: gay, black and singing in the South? But his records are a joyous good time from beginning to end."<ref>{{Cite magazine|first=Sylvie|last=Simmons|author-link=Sylvie Simmons|title=Last night a record changed my life|magazine=[[Mojo (magazine)|Mojo]]|issue=129|date=August 2004|page=30}}</ref>