 Barnum also stated that Penniman was innovative in that he would wear colorful capes, blouse shirts, makeup and suits studded with multi-colored precious 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.In 2015, the National Museum of African American Music honored Penniman for helping to shatter the color line on the music charts changing American culture forever.Penniman influenced generations of performers across musical genres.