Happy 79th Birthday Little Richard [VIDEO]

Little Richard is 79 years old today (December 5th, 2011).  Born Richard Penniman, he would go on to shock and amaze fans with his high octane approach to rock and roll.  Little Richard was considered absolutely outrageous at his peak in the 1950s, and he reveled in the image.

Performing in dramatic makeup and gyrating around his piano, Richard could work crowds into an absolute frenzy.  It's easy to see that he was the model for so many artists who came after him, most notably Prince.  Paul McCartney would emulate Little Richard's signature falsetto on early Beatles' hits too.  In every sense of the phrase, he's a true rock and roll pioneer.   Check out a video of Little Richard in action: