Little Richard I Am Everything has just been put into commission

Little Richard, born Richard Wayne Penniman, will be the next subject of CNN Films and HBO Max’s newest documentary.

The music documentary is going to showcase the showman’s seven decades within and outside of music. The doc will include never-seen-before archival footage and interviews from his family, colleagues, fellow musicians and historians. The Macon, Georgia product was the third child of 12 children, and in his youth he honed his vocal and piano playing skills in church.

After signing a deal with RCA in 1951, genre defining hits like “Tutti Frutti” and “Long Tall Sally”, helped shape and break barriers within the 1950s rock n’ roll era. His music influenced many acts that followed including Prince, The Beatles and The Rolling Stones. Richard Penniman died in 2020 during his battle with bone cancer.

Little Richard: I Am Everything was first revealed in December 2020 but had a hard time getting clearance for a streaming partner. Now that it has found a home, the film is currently in production and is expected to be completed later this year.