The Magnificent One: how Little Richard's style shaped David Bowie, Prince and Elton John

The musician, who died on Saturday aged 87, was a pioneer in looks as well as sounds, influencing everything from James Brown's quiff to Prince's midriff

Little Richard scared my grandmother in 1957," wrote John Waters in 2010. While his grandmother's fear was largely about the singer's sound - that trademark shriek at the start of his hit Lucille - his look had a formative impact on the 11-year-old Waters. It is thanks to Little Richard that the film director has the deliciously fake pencil-thin moustache that his fans know and love today.

Waters' moustache is just one example of Little Richard's influence on fashion and style. Images of Little Richard, born Richard Penniman, in his 5os heyday show a proud, decade-appropriate quiff - forget Chuck Berry and Elvis, this was the best in the business - plus a mascara-ed moustache, panstick makeup and the look of kohl around his eyes. James Brown, who was a Little Richard impersonator, learned the power of good hair from him. The Godfather of Soul began his career in the late 50s with a quiff worthy of Little Richard.