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Cathy Wurzer
ST. PAUL, Minn.

Legendary rock and roll pioneer Little Richard turns 81

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Little Richard
Little Richard performs during the annual PBS "A Capitol Fourth" concert at the US Capitol on July 3, 2011 in Washington, DC.
Kris Connor/Getty Images

Little Richard, one of the original rock and roll wild men of the 1950s, celebrates his 81st birthday today.

Little Richard also made a number of gospel recordings. He was born into a very religious family and is an ordained minister of the Church of God of the Ten Commandments.

He stopped playing rock and roll for many years because he came to believe that it was the devil's music. Richard quit touring relatively recently, not for religious reasons, but because he was having trouble getting around after hip surgery.