Little Richard - Rock n Roll to the Rock of Ages Little Richard Little Richard
There have been kings thru time, but THE KING of kings - JESUS - IS COMIN BACK SOON! Below: Little Richard TESTIMONIALS by Ray Charles, James Brown, Otis, Jimi, etc., BIO, AWARDS, VINTAGE VIDEOS, upcoming APPEARANCES, NEW RECORDINGS (see BLOG) & MORE!
Little Richard - Rock n Roll to the Rock of Ages's Interests
General
INFUENCED BY:
GOD,
MAHALIA JACKSON,
SISTER ROSETTA THARPE,
MARION WILLIAMS,
BROTHER JOE MAY,
BILLY WRIGHT,
ROY BROWN,
CLARA WARD,
RUTH BROWN,
FATS DOMINO ("Fats wasn't singing rock back then, he was singing low down blues songs like 'Every Night About This Time'."
INFLUENCED:
JAMES BROWN, ELVIS PRESLEY, OTIS REDDING, SAM COOKE, WILSON PICKETT, BOB DYLAN, PAUL McCARTNEY, MICK JAGGER, JIMI HENDRIX, BOOTSY COLLINS, JOHN FOGERTY, BOB SEGER, MICHEAL JACKSON, ROD STEWART, DAVID BOWIE, AC/DC, AND ALMOST EVERY OTHER R&B/ROCKnSOUL PERFORMER OF THE 1950s, 60s, AND YEARS BEYOND. LITTLE RICHARD'S IMMENSE IMPACT ON BOTH THE GOSPEL/CONTEMPORARY CHRISTIAN (everything from Contemporary Christian Rock to Christian Rap) AND SECULAR MUSIC GENRES IN THE 20th AND 21st CENTURIES IS INCALCULABLE...
Back to Influences:
SISTER ROSETTA THARPE (1915-1973) - the 'Original Soul Sister' of recorded music was also the first superstar of Gospel music and one of the key components Little Richard used in his 'blueprint' for Rock 'n' Roll. Sister Rosetta began singing and playing guitar at age 4 in the Pentecostal Churches and camp meetings that emerged out of the Holiness movement of the late 1800's and the Azusa Street Revival, which set Los Angeles on "spiritual fire" in the early 1900s. She rocked and stomped in the power of the Holy Ghost with her innovative guitar playing (perhaps the earliest signs of rock n roll guitar playing) and passionate singing through the 1920s and 30s. Beginning her recording career by signing with Decca in 1938, Sister Rosetta began performing outside of the churches (shining the Light of the Lord in the darkness - i.e. "nightclubs"), which brought condemnation from some church folk. Below is a clip of her performing her classic "Lonseome Road" from the late 1930s, replete with "showgirls" (an arrangement not her own) that seemed so out of place within the context of the spiritual song.
Sister Rosetta had her first radio hit in 1939 with her own original Gospel song "This Train" (one of the most influential songs in Rock n Roll, according to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.) She also provided Little Richard with his first "paid gig" in 1945, when she invited 12 year old Richard onstage to sing at the Macon City Auditorium, after hearing him sing one of her Gospel songs before the show. She was brother Richard's favorite singer as a child. Watch the following 2 videos and BE BLESSED!
Music
Below: the originator of the 'swagga' himself (definition - "swagg" - see www.urbandictionary.com), performing his original hit song "Tutti Frutti", which he performed on the road in the early 1950s and then recorded it for Specialy Records in Septmeber 1955:
Little Richard performing his original smash hit song - "Long Tall Sally" in 1956:
In 1957, Little Richard, following a rapid succession of stunning, spine-tingling R&B hits, such as "Tutti Frutti", "Long Tall Sally", "Rip It Up", "Ready Teddy", "Slippin & Slidin", The Girl Can't Help It", "She's Got It", "True Fine Mama", "Keep a Knockin'" and others, that defined the new sound of rock n roll with frantically charged piano-playing, funky rocking arrangements, and the raw, raspy holler that lifted him to the top of the music world, faced dramatic events in his life that led him to a spiritual conversion. Drawing on the teachings he learned in various churches as a child, he retreated to the Lord, becoming a born again Christian, and subsequently abondoned his groundbreaking R&B/Rock n Roll songs and recordings, as well as all his songwriting royalties. He attended Bible college and performed and recorded only Gospel mucic. In 1962, he was drawn back into performing secular music. He toured Europe with the then unknown band called the Beatles as his opening act. The following video is from a TV performance (backed up with the first girl supergroup "The Shirelles") from that pre-Beatles era that captured the excitement that he and his music whipped up for his fans:
Below: Another exciting performance of the same song from the same pre-Beatles era:
Below: Little Richard and his 'slow soulful side' that inspired Otis Redding, Sam Cooke and helped usher in the soul movement. From the Tom Jones Show:
Below: Tom Jones gets a chance to "Rip It Up" with Little Richard:
By 1968, over 32,000,000 Little Richard records had been sold. By 1972, as he continued through a long 'backslidden' period, he performed at London's Wembley Stadium (below videos). By then, over 50,000,000 of his records had been sold. By the year 2000 his original songs were reportedly worth over $100,000,000 dollars.
In 1977, Brother Richard repented from his backslide and returned full force to his evangelical ministry...
John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God... John 1:14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
The Word of God became flesh in the person of Jesus Christ. Jesus taught that a man cannot see the Kingdom of heaven unless he is "born again". A person is first born when he or she is born of the flesh - the physical birth. One is born again (born of the Spirit) when he or she accepts Jesus Christ in his or her heart as personal Lord and Savior. Eternal life rests on this decision to receive or not to receive. IF YOU WANT TO KNOW THAT YOU WILL GO TO HEAVEN WHEN YOU DIE, please CLICK on the following page ministry partner (GO MINISTRIES) link:
or pray the folling prayer:
Special message from page ministry partner and upcoming Christian rap artist, Eduardo Estrella:
Following his retreat to his spiritual roots in 1957, Little Richard recorded Gospel music for Little Star, Goldisc, Mercury, Atlantic, 20th Century-Fox, Coral, Summit, and Guest Star from 1959-1963, as well as for World in 1979 and Warner Brothers in 1985 and 1986. The Warner Bros. recordings, some of which were packaged in the album "Lifetime Friend", showcased Little Richard's 'reconciliation' between his role as a rock n roll star and his role as a preacher/evangelist. Highlighting positive, inspirational/Gospel lyrics, Brother Richard referred to his new music style as "messages in rhythm." This 1986 Contemporary Christian Rock album has yet to be re-released, so, aside from the hit single "Great Gosh A'Mighty", it is somewhat hard to find...
Below: Press the following link to the iTunes (USA) store to purchase a download of the page theme song - Little Richard's incredible "Does Jesus Care" (from the album: "Goldisc Records From The Vault Vol. 4: Pray Along With Little Richard"): ..
Below: Purchase Little Richard's moving "Milky White Way" (from the album: "Goldisc Records From The Vault Vol. 4: Pray Along With Little Richard") from iTunes: ..
Below: Press the following iTunes link to purchase the entire album "Little Richard - Goldisc Records From The Vault Vol. 4: Pray Along With Little Richard" at a special low price! ..
Movies
Above Slideshow - featuring Little Richard, his faith in the Lord, and some of his old friends that have now passed, including Larry Williams (standing), Otis Redding, Billy Preston (young Billy in studio and an older Billy raising his fist), Wilson Pickett, Jimi Hendrix, as well as contemporary star Lenny Kravitz displaying 'the faith' in concert. Last pic on roll - Richard with son Danny (left) leaving Wilson Pickett's funeral.
Brother Wilson started his career in Gospel music but was lured into secular music by money. He said he had mixed feelings about abandoning his gospel roots, fearing that "if you leave God and go to the devil, you're going to go to hell," as he told Rolling Stone magazine in 1979. "You see, I wanted to sing gospel, but I wanted to make some money, too. So I said, 'No I'll never leave, I'll never leave God.' Until that evening that one of the Falcons came by and I was sitting on the back porch and I went down and tried it out. And from then on I told God, I looked up and I said, 'I'm on my way this way -- would You care to go with me? I'd really appreciate Your being with me. It'd make me feel better.' My sisters and brothers were proud of me making pop records, but my grandmother and my mother, they said, 'Oh, he done strayed away from God?' It's scary, y'know, because I done got a taste of how hundred-dollar bills feel in your hand. I'm saying to my people now, 'You say that you prosper when you believe, right? Well, I done started prospering, so it must have been in the hands of God!'"
Hurt and confused by his fall from commercial grace fifteen years later, Pickett said, "I will be searching for the answers as long as I desire to be in the business." However, he never again realized the same success that he had in the mid-1960s. He did experience a comeback of sorts in the late 1990's, touring into the new milenium, but it was not to last. He fell ill in 2004.
While in the hospital, Brother Wilson returned to his spiritual roots and discussed recording a Gospel album with his sister, Emily Jean Rochelle. Sadly, however, his health continued to decline, and he faded away in January of 2006. But GOD saw his heart...
"Whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away."
James 4:14 (NKJV)
At the Canaan Christian Chrurch where Brother Wilson's funeral took place, Wilson's sister Emily sang an emotional rendition of "God Cares for You," and Little Richard spoke of his old friend and preached to over 800 mourners present at Canaan Christian Church service. "I love him and he's always been my friend," Little Richard said of Brother Wilson. Talking about death, he said, "We need to remember that we all gotta do this, what Wilson has done, one day. Ain't nobody immune. You don't get too rich. You don't get too famous. You don't get too pretty. And anybody that thinks different, just tell 'em to shut up. Study your Bible and in a little while, He should come, He will come, and He will not tarry."
Below: "Great Gosh A'Mighty" and highlights from the smash hit motion picture "Down and Out in Beverly Hills"
Below: Little Richard not long after his automobile accident with his 1986 inspirational hit "Great Gosh A'Mighty" (co-written by Brother Richard and Brother Billy Preston) from the smash motion picture "Down and Out in Beverly Hills" (in with Brother Richard co-starred). One version was released as a single by MCA Records and was part of what Brother Richard called a "messages in rhythm" album released via Warner Brothers Records (WEA) in 1986. Below is a video of Brother Richard performing the track and a bit about the 'History of Rock n Roll' on Soul Train with Don Cornelius:
Below - Little Richard on 'Solid Gold' performing the Gospel-tinged track from the 1986 WEA album "Lifetime Friend",
Somebody's Comin' ..
Below: Brother Richard & special friends performing the rockinest version of "Didn't It Rain" ever!! Straight from the Apollo Theatre in 1985.
Below: Preview of Little Richard's "Operator" from 1987:
Below: Little Richard, Mavis Staples & Al Green open the perfomance with "Joy, Joy, Joy" in my heart. Patti Labelle sings "You'll Never Walk Alone," with Al Green, Mavis Staples & Little Richard join Patti in the end of the song!
Below - Little Richard & Philip Baliey of the legendary Earth, Wind & Fire performing the theme song to the motion picture "Twins" (1988):
Below: Great Gosh A'Mighty from "Legends of Rock 'n' Roll" recorded live in Rome, Italy in 1989. Watch Ray Charles introduce Little Richard as "the man who started a kind of music that set the pace for a lot of what's happenin' today." Order this extrodinary DVD of the legends together at AMAZON in your region or directly from Eagle VISION at www.eaglerockent.com.
Below: Living Colour performs their 1990 rocker "Elvis Is Dead" w/ special guests Little Richard (rapping) and Angelo Moore of Fishbone (on sax). Living Colour - Elvis Is Dead (live)
Below:
King Richard sings "Good Golly Miss Molly" (Polygram 1991):
Below: Cassius Clay (b.k.a. Muhammed Ali) at his 50th birthday party, looking like a kid in a candy store as 'King' Richard, 59, entertains. (Of course, their is only one King of kings - JESUS!!)
Below: Aretha, Little Richard and Billy Preston pay homage to Sister Marion Williams in 1993 with "Packin' Up"...
(video unavailable at this time)
Television
Below: Little Richard and Tanya Tucker live with their hit duet from the Album "Rhythm Country & Blues."
Below: Performing "America The Beautiful" at a WWF event in 1995:
Below: Performing "Lucille" on Motown Live in the late 1990s:
Below: LEON received an EMMY nomination for his outstanding portrayal of the legendary LITTLE RICHARD in the 2000 biopic, which is often televised on BET or may be purchased online at amazon.com. Witness music history, as Rhythm & Blues births a baby named Rock n Roll. Marvel at the mercy of GOD, as Brother Richard finds strength from the ONLY ONE that can truly help us find inner peace... WATCH THE TRAILER!!
Below: Following a lecture at SxSW in Austin, Texas.
Below: A marvellous spiritual spin on the smash GEICO commercial hit of 2006:
Below: A humorous Billboard Award spin on the same commercial:
Below: Rev. Richard W. Penniman Weds 20 Couples at 1 Event in 2006:
..
Below: Spain and Latin America's Queen of Rock, Alejandra Guzmán, jumps in with Little Richard in the funky dance track "Spend It", produced by percussionist Loris Ceroni:
Below: Cover of the evangelical Christian booklet Bro Rich distributes in concert:
Below: Bro Rich with 1st (1985) edition of the ONLY authorized bio "The Life and Times of Little Richard" by Charles White
Below: The official cover of the latest (2002) updated version of the authorized 'Life and Times' bio, available at amazon.com
Heroes
The Holy Trinity: the Father GOD, the Son JESUS and the HOLY GHOST the comforter; in other words - GOD. Also any born again Christian who holds on to and fights for the faith to the end.
Below: Daniel of the Holy Bible, who lived over 2,500 years ago, was a classic example of a strong believer and is a hero to hundreds of millions around the world...
Below: Brother Billy Preston with a soul-stirring performance:
Below: Tramaine Hawkins funky, danceable Gospel recordings on A&M Records in the mid-1980s were revolutionary but before their time. It would be another decade before that form of music would start to become accepted by the church (finally reclaiming the music that was inspired by the fire of the Pentecostal movement). Now Mary Mary, Kirk Franklin and others raise the roofs in churches with music that inspires and ministers to the youth of today. Here is Tramaine singing the classic (but hard to find) "The Rock" from the album "Freedom"
(video unavailable at this time)
Below: Gospel R&B Legends - The Winans with "It's Time"
(video unavailable at this time)
Below: Bruthas from Compton and So. Central LA - Bloods n Cripps that gave it up 4 Christ and became the legendary "Gospel Gangstaz" in the early 1990's. They had an influence on Tupac, who might still be alive this day if he would have leaned more on his faith in tha Lord.
One of the members of the Gospel Gangstaz (Tik Tok), left the group for a time and suffered a major 'setback' in 2004, which has landed him in a Georgia State Pen. Please send your love and encouragement that will keep his spirits lifted at the address below:
Todd Jones 1247630
EF 631782 Telfair State Prison
P.O. Box 549 Helena
GA 31037
Below: Gospel R&B/Dance Music was finally accepted by the church with the specular recording artist "Mary Mary" in the last decade.
Below: Lead singer and co-writer with the 70's secular supergroup, Foreigner, Lou Gramm, speaks about his born again experience and calling to sing for the LORD:
Brother Lou suffered from a life threatening brain tumor in 1997 that needed surgery. He had a long difficult recovery but has continued to record and sing. His 1984 Gospel-tinged superhit "I want To Know What Love Is" (see below) offers a glimpse of the mountain he didn't know he would have to climb and the LOVE of GOD that he would truly come to know and experience. He is now recording as the Lou Gramm Band.
Below: Gospel Hard Rockers "Thousand Foot Krutch" have had great success since their first release "Phenomonen", which included their mellow track that was set to the following annointed video.
Below: Christian Rap star "Lecrae" Moore released a powerful album recently. "Rebel" is the title track and highlights how we as Christians are the rebels now because the world is lost and dying and everyone is sinning. The ones who are rebelling against the sin culture are those who will see heaven...
Below: The late Johnny Cash (1932-2003) became a born again Christian many years before he passed on to heaven. He, like Brother Richard, was such a passionate believer that his evangelical faith spilled into his artwork. And he also evangelised through his work with Brother Billy Graham. In 1991, Brother Johnny recorded "Goin' By The Book" about the upcoming apocalyptic war and how history is playing out just as the prophecies in God's Word (the Holy Bible) indicate. Below is a ministry's version of the song, which highlights the songs intent:
Brother Johnny had been working on his last record when his wife fell ill. After she died he threw himself into the project. "His voice would come and go. He never knew from one day to the next whether he was going to be able to sing. He was real weak," recalled engineer David Ferguson. "He was in a wheelchair and sick, but whenever he could and whenever he felt like it he wanted to record because he really wanted to finish up that record."
Not long before Brother Johnny died, Brother Richard recorded his "Get Rhythm" in his original rocking style, as part of the CD "Kindred Spirits: A Tribute To The Music of Johnny Cash"...
Though Cash battled drug addiction for much of his life, he held strong Christian beliefs and often quoted the Bible. He was deeply sympathetic to the downtrodden -- whether American Indians or convicts -- and gave them voice in his songs.
His faith seemed to grow stronger as his body grew weaker, Turner wrote. In his final months, he had a light box that projected pages of the Bible onto a screen so he could read it. He also spoke regularly with Graham, "someone whom he'd always relied on as a rock to lean on in times of trouble," Turner wrote.
"I think that's the only way he made it," his niece Kelly Hancock said. "I think he had the utmost faith in God and he looked to God for his faith and direction."
"The Man Comes Around" was one of the last songs Brother Johnny wrote in his life, and the only one he wrote for the last album eleased while he was alive. It contains numerous Biblical references, predominantly from the Book of Revelations. The song never names "the man" who will come around, though Brother Johnny was referring to the second coming of Jesus Christ. According to the song, when the man comes around, there will be judgement (and hell) for some and salvation for others. The song is introduced by a spoken portion from Revelation 6:1-2 in the King James Version (KJV) and ends with his reading of scripture from Revelations 6:6.
Invitation to ALL: Accept Jesus Christ as your personal Lord & Savior and look forward to joining those whose names are written in the "Lamb's Book of Life" in the "Big House Reunion" in the sky!
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Little Richard - Rock n Roll to the Rock of Ages's Details
Status:
Divorced
Here for:
Networking, Friends
Orientation:
Straight
Hometown:
Macon, Georgia
Body type:
6' 0"
Ethnicity:
Black / African descent
Religion:
Christian - other
Zodiac Sign:
Sagittarius
Children:
Proud parent
Occupation:
Entertainer / Evangelist
Little Richard - Rock n Roll to the Rock of Ages Little Richard had successful surgery on hip. In quite a bit of pain. Lots of physio ahead 'cause he waited so long 4 op. Please be praying. Posted 5 hours ago from Twitter view more
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Little Richard - Rock n Roll to the Rock of Ages's Blurbs
About me: This web page was inspired by the Holy Ghost and created as a gift for the 'Architect of Rock 'n' Roll' - Little Richard - who has been Rockin' an Rollin', Rhythm & Blues Soulin' in public (outside of the church) since 1945 and recording since 1951. It is a tribute to the music and talent of an original recording artist who crossed the American radial divide in 1955, thus becoming a cornerstone of the most important artform of the twentieth century - Rock 'n' Roll music.
Little Richard's influence on BOTH Rhythm & Blues and Rock 'n' Roll was, in fact, so significant that he was one of only four of the first nine inductees into the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame in 1986, including fellow Georgians Ray Charles and James Brown, along with Fats Domino (Bo Diddley followed the next year), to ALSO recieve the Rhythm and Blues Foundation's Pioneer Lifetime Achievement Award (only one "Pioneer Lifetime Achievement Award" has given out each year by the R&B Foundation - the rest awarded each year are "Pioneer Awards").
This page is also for those that share Brother Richard's born again Christian faith, who wish to support him spiritually through prayer and encouraging, inspirational comments and/or wish to pray that this page continues to lead thousands of lost and struggling souls every month to hope and peace of mind through Jesus Christ.
The page developer is a rock n roll music researcher and historian, as well as a writer and evangelist, who led an effort to ensure that original artists, such as LITTLE RICHARD and BO DIDDLEY, would begin to get the credit they deserved in the major encyclopedias for starting new kinds of music in the 1950s. And with no fitting tribute on the largest networking server in the world - MYSPACE - the development of this page was essential.
TESTIMONIALS (contact website manager for citations):
RAY CHARLES (watch the following Ray Charles testimonial on the youtube video from Eagle Vision Entertainment - in the lower left hand column):
"I wanna introduce a man that started a kind of music that set the pace for a lot of what's happening today. Ladies and gentlemen, if you don't mind, here is my man, bless his little sweet heart, ladies and gentlemen, Mr. Little Richard!"
ETTA JAMES:
From the book, "Heart & Soul - A Celebration Of Black Music Style In America 1930-1975", an illustrated history of "Black Music Style." Etta wrote the forward. Speaking of the Top Ten Tour, which of course included Little Richard: "....he was the biggest of them all. And he knew it. ...he wanted everyone to call him 'King Richard'.... He had the biggest, flashiest and with all the best looking players. He also had the greatest parties in his hotel rooms. At least, that's what I was told. They wouldn't let me in, because I was underage." Etta also mentions her first meeting with James Brown, in Macon, Georgia, where this young Dancer/Boxer/Gospel Singer had befriended Little Richard. "He used to carry around an old tattered napkin with him, because Little Richard had written the words, 'Please, Please, Please' on it and James was detemined to make a song out of it...".
JAMES BROWN (who, along with others, claimed, that Little Richard was the first to put the FUNK in the Rock n Roll beat via his saxaphone-studded, mid-1950s road band):
"Little Richard is my idol."
ELVIS PRESLEY:
"Your music has inspired me - you are the greatest." - 1969
DICK CLARK:
"I'd like you to meet a man who was the model for almost every rock n roll performer of the (19)50s and years thereafter - a true rock 'n' roll legend - Little Richard!"
"Once you have seen this man you know instantly that you have seen the greatest Rock n Roll legend of our time."
DON COVAY:
"Little Richard represented what I wanted to be. He was, and still is, my idol."
H.B. BARNUM:
"Richard opened the door. He brought the races together. When I first went on the road their were many segragated audiences. With Richard, although they still had the audiences segragated in the building, they were there TOGETHER. And most times before the end of the night, they would all be mixed together. Up until then, the audiences were either all black or all white and no one else could come in. His records weren't boy-meets-girl-girl-meets-boy things, they were FUN records, all fun. And they had a lot to say sociologically in our country and the world. The shot was fired here and heard around the world... When Richard opened his mouth, man, everyone could enjoy it. He's got a voice that would make 'em jump up and down... that's the first time I ever saw spotlights and flicker lights used at a concert show. It had all been used in show business but he brought it into our world."
OTIS REDDING:
"If it hadn't been for Little Richard, I would not be here. I entered the music business because of Richard - he is my inspiration. I used to sing like Little Richard, his Rock 'n' Roll stuff, you know. Richard has soul, too. My present music has a lot of him in it." - 1966
WILSON PICKETT:
Max Pickett, at his brother Wilson's funeral, said Wilson called Little Richard "the Architect of Rock and Roll.”
SAM COOKE:
"I love Little Richard. He is a great entertainer and he has done so much for our music." - 1962
SMOKEY ROBINSON:
"Little Richard is the beginning of Rock 'n' Roll."
"Little Richard was the beginning of that drivin', never-let-up, funky Rock 'n' Roll." (American Music Awards - 1997
JOHNNY 'GUITAR' WATSON:
"He is the King of Rock 'n' Roll."
PHIL EVERLY:
"Richard is an original, and the songs he's written and the songs he's done and made famous are just one of a kind."
QUINCY JONES:
"Little Richard was not only a giant but a pioneer of the so-called Rock 'n' Roll music industry. He had such a unique voice and style that no one else has matched it... Rock 'n' Soul is here to stay!"
PAUL McCARTNEY:
"I never thought I'd ever meet Little Richard. He was my idol at school. The first song I ever sang in public was 'Long Tall Sally,' at a Butlins holiday camp talent competition! I love his voice and I always wanted to sing like him."
GEORGE HARRISON:
"Thank you all very much, especially the rock 'n' rollers, an' Little Richard there (pointing to him) - it was all his fault really." - 1988 (At the Beatles induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.)
TOM PETTY (inducting GEORGE HARRISON into the Rock Hall as a solo artist):
"I'm sure being in the Beatles has not been a hindrance to my solo career.' (audience laughs). He was first inducted into this great hall as a member of the Beatles and tonight he receives a second nomination as a solo artist (audience claps). Having stood onstage and off between Lennon and McCartney is a really tough spot for an aspiring songwriter. Yet learning his craft he grew into an excellent writer, coming up with classics like "Something" "Here Comes the Sun" and many more. He became so prolific that he began to stockpile large amounts of unreleased songs and this became the basis for his first solo album "All Things Must Pass." (audience claps) Which was the first number one album by an ex-Beatle, (audience claps again) and many more hits would come. He often said he wasn't pursuing a solo career at all, he never hired a manager and he never had an agent. He just loved playing music with his friends and he loved guitars and he loved rock & roll and he loved Carl Perkins and he loved Little Richard and he love Dhani and Olivia (applause)..."
JOHN LENNON:
"Elvis was bigger than religion in my life. Then this boy at school said he'd got this record by somebody called Little Richard who was better than Elvis. We used to go to this boys house after school and listen to Elvis on 78s: we'd buy five ciggies loose and some chips and go along. The new record was Little Richard's 'Long Tall Sally'. When I heard it, it was so great I couldn't speak. You know how you are torn. I didn't want to leave Elvis but this was so much better. We all looked at each other. I didn't want to say anything against Elvis, even in my mind. How could they both be happening in my life? And then someone siad, "It's a nigger singing." I didn't know negroes sang. So Elvis was white and Little Richard was black. This was a great relief. "Thank you God," I said. "There is a difference between them." But I though about it for days at school, of the labels on the records of Elvis and Little Richard. One was yellow and the other was blue, and I thought of the yellow against the blue." - 1970
(A few years ago a portable jukebox was discovered which belonged to John Lennon in the 1960s. The jukebox contained a tracklist of some 40 records - soul, R&B and Rock 'n' Roll - written in Lennon's own handwriting. These are the songs which shaped his musical education and they reveal many of the original sources of inspiration for his later songwriting. The following is a John Lennon quote, which can be heard at the following youtube video - Little Richard's "Slippin' and Slidin'":
"When I was a kid I was a fan of Elvis Presly n Little Richard n Chuck Berry. Up 'til then all rock 'n' roll was being black n poor, rural south or, or whatever, uhm, city slum. An' the whites had been truckers, like Elvis. The Rock n Roll - this bit about when did it start - is mean' when did the honky's notice it - that it was something strong, powerful and beautiful."
MICK JAGGER:
"I had heard so much about the audience reaction that I thought there must be some exaggeration. But it was all true. He drove the whole house into a complete frenzy. There's no single phrase to describe his hold on the audience. I couldn't believe the power of Little Richard on stage. He was amazing. Chuck Berry is my favorite, along with Bo (Diddley), but nobody could beat Little Richard's stage act. Little Richard is the originator and my first idol."
"Little Richard is King."
KIETH RICHARDS:
"The first time we realized we were on the same stage as Little Richard in 1963, that seemed like the top of the world for us. That's still as big a thrill as I've ever had."
"Hi, this is Kieth Richards, y'know. On behalf of the rest of the Stones, I guess, as well - hey, Little Richard, we were just a bar band, and our first tour - Bo Diddley, The Everly Brothers, and Little Richard, y'know. I probably learned more in that six weeks, in one period, then I ever have before or since. Uh, congratulations Little Richard, gimme a call man." (American Music Awards -1997)
JIMI HENDRIX (who recorded with Little Richard and played in his band between March 1, 1964 and May 1965 before he became famous):
"I want to do with my guitar what Little Richard does with his voice." - 1966
REV. AL GREEN:
"I was a little kid when I heard Little Richard. He was playing piano and singing that song," recalls Green before breaking into the opening lines of Richard's "Jenny, Jenny." Even then, he continues, "I knew he was a classic, one-of-a-kind. I never heard (anyone) with that kind of enthusiasm."
MARTY BALIN:
"Little Richard, man, was the god! I grew up on Little Richard in the rocking 50's."
BOB DYLAN: From 'Bob Dylan's Jukebox - The Songs That Influenced The Bard'
“Those songs are my lexicon and prayer book”, Bob Dylan told an interviewer in 1997: “You can find all my philosophy in those old songs “. Dylan was talking about how traditional songs had shaped both his life and his own music. Some might find it a little strange that one of the greatest songwriters of the 20th century should rely so heavily on influences from a bygone age. “Strap yourself to a tree with roots” Dylan sang in 1967. After all, if you don’t know where you’re coming from how can you know where you’re going?... From as far back as his early teens it was inevitable that Dylan would become a musician and in his final school yearbook he declared his intention was “To join Little Richard”, which is where this Cd begins....
RY COODER:
"The first 45 I ever played was by Little Richard. Even today, I constantly listen to Little Richard."
JOHN FOGERTY (from the interview with Daniel Levitin - Audio magazine, January, 1998):
DL: "Paul McCartney said that he really only has two vocal sounds, and they're both based on trying to copy someone; he has his Elvis sound for the ballads and his Little Richard sound for the rockers. Is there a particular singer you emulate?" JF: "It's interesting that Paul would say that, because as rock and roll as he really is - well, number one, I wish he'd do Little Richard more..." DL: "In your flat-out rock and roll voice is there someone you're hearing in your head besides yourself?" JF: "Well I'd certainly have to have a tip of the hat to Little Richard. I'd say it's sort of a composite guy, because obviously I love Wilson Pickett, and there are a few guys who have that sort of high, edgy thing, Little Richard being the best and the most famous. Wilson even screamed in tune. My voice came out a certain way and I've learned to be that way."
JON LORD:
"There would have been no DEEP PURPLE if there had been no Little Richard."
BOB SEGER:
"Little Richard - he was the first one that really got to me. Little Richard and, of course, Elvis Presley."
"I don't know if it was because of James Brown and Little Richard, I always preferred a high energy vocal, a hard full-force vocal. I liked Little Richard better than Elvis, and I liked James Brown better than the Beatles...but the Miracles were a heavy influence on me, too...[though] I always preferred the more energized vocals." (Late-1981 radio interview from segerfile.com)
ROD STEWART:(as per interview by Austin Scaggs in the Rolling Stone Oct 07, 2003)
AS: "How did Rock n Roll enter your life?" RS: "The first Rock 'n' Roll record I listened to was 'The Girl Can't Help It,' by Little Richard."
PAUL SIMON:
"When I was in high school I wanted to be like Little Richard."
ELTON JOHN:
"Little Richard's records were the best Rock 'n' Roll records."
DAVID BOWIE:
"After hearing Little Richard on record, I bought a saxaphone and came into the music business. Little Richard was my inspiration."
Upon listening to "Tutti Frutti", Bowie would later say, "I had heard God". (Peter Doggett (2007). "Teenage Wildlife", MOJO 60 Years of Bowie: pp.8-9)
"Thank you, Little Richard, for so many things... for erasing the word 'racemusic' and for giving us popular music. And for helping create rock music - the most important art form of the twentieth century." (American Music Awards - 1997)
ANGUS YOUNG:
Guitar.com: "How old were you when you started playing?" Young: "I was little, teeny. I would sort of dabble around five or six years old. That's when I started hearing Little Richard."
BON SCOTT/BRIAN JOHNSON:
Following Scott's death, the band briefly considered quitting; they eventually concluded, however, that Scott would have wanted AC/DC to continue, and various candidates were considered for his replacement... The remaining AC/DC members finally decided on ex-Geordie singer Brian Johnson. Angus Young later recalled, "I remember Bon playing me Little Richard, and then telling me the story of when he saw Brian singing." He says about that night, "There's this guy up there screaming at the top of his lungs..."
MICHAEL JACKSON:
"James Brown, Ray Charles, Jackie Wilson, Chuck Berry and Little Richard - I think they had strong influences on a lot of people, because these were the guys who really got rock'n'roll going. I like to start with the origin of things, because once it gets along it changes. It's so interesting to see how it really was in the beginning." - 1983 (http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2009/jun/28/michael-jackson-interview)
The first meeting Charles "Dr. Rock" White had with (Michael Jackson) came before the singer rocketed to worldwide superstardom at the launch party for the his first solo album "Off the Wall" – an album that many rate as far superior to million-selling megahits Thriller and Bad. Mr. White added: “I was in New York to interview Little Richard and I was at WINS, one of the biggest radio stations in the States, when I was invited to a party. I was knackered but decided to go along anyway. It was in the Natural History Museum and it was the Off the Wall launch – a few years before he became massive. We had a chat about Little Richard, who he said was a huge influence on him.” The twosome’s final meeting came at an auction of Little Richard memorabilia...
ROB HALFORD (JUDAS PRIEST):
"...the records that changed Halford's life are: Bill Haley & The Comets' 'Rock Around the Clock', Little Richard's 'Tutti Frutti' and Elvis Presley's 'Blue Suede Shoes'."
LEMMY KILMISTER (MOTORHEAD) (from Rolling Stone 10/20/2009):
RS: Kilmister has let rock & roll be his guide since he was a kid learning Buddy Holly records in Wales, and in our profile Kilmister recounts joining (and leaving) legendary psych-rock band Hawkwind, attempting to teach Sid Vicious how to play the bass and the beginnings of Motörhead, which he conceived as a blend of Hawkwind, the MC5 and Little Richard.
JOOLS HOLLAND:
"The man who started rock n roll."
WOLFMAN JACK:
"In the spiritual poll of Rock n Roll, Little Richard is a tried and true original. Since his beginning, all have picked up from his style and from his music, from the early Beatles to Mick Jagger today. At one time it was all Little Richard's original raving craving thing."
CHUCK BERRY:
"Little Richard is a great originator. He was right there at the start, a thrilling performer."
JOHNNY OTIS:
"Little Richard is twice as valid artistically and important historically as Elvis Presley, the Beatles, and the Rolling Stones put together."
LITTLE RICHARD (from the interview "Child Of God" with David Dalton -Rolling Stone 28 May 1970):
DD: "What inspired you to write 'Tutti Frutti'? Where did the style come from?" LR: "Well, you know I used to play piano for the church. You know that spiritual, 'Give Me that Old Time Religion', most churches just say, [sings] "Give me that old time religion" but I did, [sings] "Give me that old time, talkin' 'bout religion," you know I put that little thing in it you know, I always did have that thing but I didn't know what to do with the thing I had. So the style has always been with me... I always had my little thing I wanted to let the world hear, you know."
PAT BOONE:
"No on person has been imitated more than Little Richard."
BO DIDDLEY (who is also an American original):
"Little Richard was a one-of-a-kind show business genius. He influenced so many people in the business, I was afraid to follow him onstage."
Below: Brother Bo (not long before he went to heaven - see related Blog post) and his grandson, Darious Mcdaniel (aka young 'Bo Diddley'). Please be praying for 'Young Bo' and the rest of the Mcdaniel family. (CLICK ON PHOTO TO ENLARGE IT)
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A BRIEF BIOGRAPHY of REV. RICHARD WAYNE PENNIMAN
better known as LITTLE RICHARD -
FROM ROCK 'n' ROLL to the ROCK OF AGES:
RICHARD WAYNE PENNIMAN WAS BORN THE THIRD OF TWELVE CHILDREN TO CHARLES "BUD" AND LEVA MAY PENNIMAN ON DECMEBER 5, 1932 IN THE CITY OF MACON, GEORGIA, IN THE SOUTHEASTERN PART OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
'LITTLE' RICHARD GREW UP IN A FAMILY WITH DEEP SPIRITUAL ROOTS, AMID POVERTY AND PREJUDICE, AND IT WAS SINGING THAT STRENGTHENED HIS FAMILY BY MAKING THEM FEEL CLOSER TO GOD. THEY SANG THEIR TRIALS AWAY, WHICH MADE THEIR BURDENS EASIER AND THEIR LOADS LIGHTER. HIS FAMILY HAD A SINGING GROUP CALLED 'THE PENNIMAN SINGERS', WHO WOULD TRAVEL AROUND AND SING IN ALL THE CHURCHES, ENTERING CONTESTS ON A REGULAR BASIS WITH OTHER SINGING FAMILIES.
RICHARD DEMONSTRATED HIS MUSICAL GIFTS AT AN EARLY AGE. HE LEARNED TO PLAY PIANO IN THE CHURCH, AND HE ALSO LEARNED TO PLAY THE ALTO SAXAPHONE. HE LOVED TO SING AND HIS SIBLINGS CALLED HIM "WAR HAWK" BECAUSE OF HIS LOUD, POWERFUL (SOMETIME SCREAMING WITH A RASPY 'SAXLIKE' QUALITY) SINGING VOICE.
RICHARD'S GRANDFATHER ON HIS FATHER'S SIDE OF THE FAMILY WAS A PREACHER, AND HIS FATHER'S FAMILY WERE MEMBERS OF AN AFRICAN METHODIST EPISCOPAL (AME) CHURCH IN MACON. HIS GRANDMOTHER ON HIS MOTHER'S SIDE WAS A MEMBER OF A BAPTIST CHURCH, ALSO IN MACON. RICHARD REGULARLY ATTENDED THE NEW HOPE BAPTIST CHURCH IN MACON, WHERE HIS MOTHER WAS A MEMBER. HE ALSO ATTENDED CHURCHES OF OTHER DENOMINATIONS, AS HE HAD A COUSIN THAT WAS A PASTOR OF A PENTACOSTAL CHURCH AND ANOTHER RELATIVE THAT WAS THE PASTOR OF A HOLINESS CHURCH. HOWEVER, OF ALL THE CHURCHES HE FREQUENTED AS A CHILD, RICHARD'S FAVOURITE WAS THE PENTECOSTAL/HOLINESS CHURCHES BECAUSE OF THE MUSIC AND THE FUN THAT HE AND HIS FRIENDS WOULD HAVE DOING 'THE HOLY DANCE' AND TALKING IN TONGUES ALONG WITH THE MEMBERS OF THE CONGREGATION.
WHEN HE WAS AS YOUNG AS 10, RICHARD WOULD GO AROUND AS A HEALER, SINGING GOSPEL SONGS AND TOUCHING PEOPLE, WHO WOULD TESTIFY THAT THEY FELT BETTER AFTER HE MINISTERED TO THEM. INSPIRED BY BROTHER JOE MAY, A SINGING EVANGELIST KNOWN AS 'THE THUNDERBOLT OF THE WEST', RICHARD WANTED TO BECOME A PREACHER. IT WAS IN AND THROUGH THE CHURCH THAT LITTLE RICHARD'S LIFE IN MUSIC ALL BEGAN, AND THE SPIRITUAL GROUNDING HE RECEIVED AS A CHILD WOULD PROVIDE A SHELTER OF SORTS FOR HIM THROUGHOUT HIS LIFE.
NEARLY ALL OF LITTLE RICHARD'S DRAMATIC PHRASING AND SWIFT VOCAL TURNS WERE DERIVED FROM BLACK GOSPEL ARTISTS OF THE 1930'S & 40'S. HE REFERRED TO THE FIRST SUPERSTAR OF GOSPEL MUSIC, SISTER ROSETTA THARPE, AS HIS FAVORITE SINGER WHEN HE WAS A CHILD. SISTER ROSETTA HAD INVITED HIM TO SING ONSTAGE WITH HER AT THE MACON CITY AUDITORIUM IN 1945, AFTER HEARING HIM SING ONE OF HER SONGS BEFORE THE CONCERT. THE CROWD APPLAUDED AND CHEERED AND SHE PAID HIM MORE MONEY THAN HE HAD EVER SEEN AFTER THE SHOW. THAT WAS HIS FIRST SIGNIFICANT PUBLIC PERFORMANCE OUTSIDE OF THE 'CHURCH'. HE WAS ALSO HEAVILY INFLUENCED BY MARION WILLIAMS (FROM WHOM HE GOT THE TRADEMARK "WHOOOOO!" IN HIS VOCAL), MAHALIA JACKSON AND BROTHER JOE MAY. HE WAS ALSO INFLUENCED IN APPEARANCE (HAIR, CLOTHING, SHOES, MAKEUP, ETC.) AND SOUND BY LATE 1940'S GOSPEL-STYLE, JUMP BLUES SHOUTER BILLY WRIGHT, AKA 'THE PRINCE OF THE BLUES', WITH WHOM HE DEVELOPED A FRIENDSHIP.
MODELED AFTER WRIGHT, LITTLE RICHARD BEGAN RECORDING FOR PEACOCK IN 1951 BUT DID NOT EXPERIENCE A SIGNIFICANT BREAKTHROUGH UNTIL HE SWITCHED TO SPECIALTY RECORDS A FEW YEARS LATER, WHEN ART RUPE HANDED HIS CAREER OVER TO ROBERT 'BUMPS' BLACKWELL. BUMPS ORIGINALLY PLANNED TO PIT LITTLE RICHARD AGAINST BLUES STARS RAY CHARLES AND B.B. KING, BUT DESTINY HAD ANOTHER PLAN.
IN 1954 LITTLE RICHARD BEGAN PREPARING A DEMO TAPE, WHICH WAS SENT TO HOLLYWOOD-BASED SPECIALTY RECORDS ON FEBRUARY 15, 1955. CONTRACTS WERE SENT OUT TO RICHARD’S MANAGER ON MARCH 4TH. ON SEPTEMBER 13, 1955, LITTLE RICHARD ENTERED COSIMO MATASSA’S J&M STUDIOS IN NEW ORLEANS FOR THE FIRST TIME WITH PRODUCER BUMPS BLACKWELL AND THE CREAM OF BANDLEADER DAVE BARTHOLOMEW’S MUSICAL TROUPE. AT A BREAK IN A RECORDING SESSION, RICHARD BEGAN SHOUTING OUT A SONG THAT HE WROTE AND HAD BEEN PEFORMING FORSOME TIME IN CONCERT AND STARTED POUNDING OUT THE BOOGIE-WOOGIE ACCOMPANIMENT ON THE PIANO. BUMPS WAS KNOCKED OUT. BELIEVING THAT THE UNIQUE SONG AND STYLE HAD TREMEMBDOUS HIT POTENTIAL, BUMPS HAD A LYRIC WRITER HELP CLEAN UP THE LYRIC SO THAT THE SONG WOULD BE SUITABLE FOR PUBLIC CONSUMPTION. THE RECORDED VERSION OF "TUTTI FRUTTI," WITH ITS SPINE-TINGLING "AWOP-BOP-A-LOO-MOP ALOP BAM BOOM!" ACAPELLA INTRO, EXPLODED INTO THE WORLD IN THE AUTUMN OF 1955.
BETWEEN 1955 AND 1957, LITTLE RICHARD RECORDED A STUNNING SUCCESSION OF HIT RECORDINGS THAT WERE A MIX OF BOOGIE-WOOGIE AND R&B, HEAVILY STEEPED IN GOSPEL MUSIC, BUT WITH A HEAVILY ACCENTUATED BACK BEAT, FUNKY RHYTHM, RASPY-SHOUTED VOCALS, WILD SCREAMS BEFORE INSTRUMENTAL SOLOS, AND, AT TIMES, BREATHLESSLY DELIVERED LYRICS THAT, ALL COMBINED, MARKED A DECIDEDLY NEW KIND OF MUSIC, WHICH LAID THE FOUNDATION FOR ROCK N ROLL MUSIC AND INFLUENCED ALMOST EVERY RHYTHM & BLUES/ROCK N SOUL PERFORMER OF THE 1950S, 1960S AND GENERATIONS BEYOND. THIS INCLUDED JAMES BROWN, WHO CLAIMED ALONG WITH OTHER KEY ARTISTS (AS HIGHLIGHTED BY THE ROCK AND ROLL HALL OF FAME) THAT LITTLE RICHARD WAS THE FIRST TO PUT THE FUNK IN THE ROCK N ROLL BEAT VIA HIS SAXOPHONE-STUDDED MID-1950S ROAD BAND. THUS, JAMES BROWN AND 'FUNK' EMERGED AS MAJOR FORCE IN MUSIC.
THEN, SUDDENLY, AT THE PINNACLE OF STARDOM IN 1957, LITTLE RICHARD, FEARING HIS OWN DAMNATION PROMPTED BY A SERIES OF DRAMATIC EVENTS (INCLUDING HIS SEEING A FIREY RED HOT AIRPLANE ENGINE AMID A FLIGHT AND LATER A FIREBALL IN THE SKY, WHICH WAS ACTUALLY THE RUSSIAN ROCKET 'SPUTNICK' TEARING THROUGH THE NIGHT SKY), LITTLE RICHARD WOULD REPENT OF HIS WAYWORD LIFESTYLE AND ABANDON HIS CLASSIC R&B HITS (REPORTED WORTH OVER $100 MILLION BY THE YEAR 2000) FOR THE BORN AGAIN CHRISTIANITY THAT HE LEARNED ABOUT AS A CHILD. ALTHOUGH HIS SECULAR STARDOM IN THE 1950s WAS BRIEF, HIS IMPACT ON TWENTIETH CENTURY MUSIC AND POP CULTURE IS INCALCULABLE.
WHILE LITTLE RICHARD'S CONVERSTION TO CHRISTIANITY RESULTED IN AN ABRUPT HALT TO THE RECORDING STYLE THAT MADE HIM FAMOUS, HE WAS IN AND OUT OF ROCK AND ROLL AND IN AND OUT OF THE MINISTRY FOR DECADES. HE CONTINUED TO RECORD EITHER GOSPEL OR SECULAR MUSIC - HIS PERSONAL/ SPIRITUAL CONVICTIONS CONSTANTLY CLASHING WITH THE TREMENDOUS DEMANDS ON HIM TO PERFORM AND RECORD SECULAR MATERIAL. THUS, HE HAS MOUNTED COMEBACKS WITH SECULAR AND INSPIRATIONAL MATERIAL IN EVERY DECADE SINCE. HE HAS ALSO REMAINED IN CONSTANT DEMAND TO RECORD INTO THE TWENTY FIRST CENTURY.
LITTLE RICHARD GOT SAVED aka 'BORN AGAIN' (Read the Gospel According to John Chapter 3) IN 1957, WHILE ON TOUR IN AUSTRALIA, HE CLAIMED THAT HE HAD BEEN WARNED OF HIS OWN DAMNATION. HE REPENTED OF HIS 'WICKED WAYS', TOOK VOICE OF PROFECY COURSES, ATTENDED OAKWOOD COLLEGE (SDA) IN HUNTSVILLE, ALABAMA, AND WAS ORDAINED A MINSTER IN THE CHURCH OF GOD OF THE TEN COMMANDMENTS. HIS STANCE AT THAT TIME OF HIS LIFE WAS THAT ROCK MUSIC WAS OF THE DEVIL AND THAT IT WAS NOT POSSIBLE TO BE A ROCKER AND PLEASE GOD AT THE SAME TIME.
HE BEGAN PERFORMING GOSPEL MUSIC THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, OFTEN WITH GOSPEL ARTISTS THAT INSPIRED HIM AS A CHILD, SUCH AS SISTER ROSETTA THARPE AND MAHALIA JACKSON. WHILE HE MET SISTER ROSETTA IN THE DECADE PRIOR, HE DIDN'T MEET MAHALIA UNTIL THIS PERIOD IN LOS ANGELES, WHEN HE INVITED HER TO HEAR HIM SING AT THE MOUNT MARIA BAPTIST CHURCH. IN JULY OF 1959, HE MARRIED A GIRL NAMED ERNESTINE. THEY WERE MARRIED UNTIL THE SUMMER OF 1964.
WHILE HIS FORMER RECORD LABEL, SPECIALTY, RELEASED A FEW OF HIS SONGS BASED ON PAST RECORDING SESSIONS, RICHARD RECORDED ONLY GOSPEL MUSIC IN THE LATE 1950'S AND EARLY 1960'S, WHICH WON THE PRAISES OF THE CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY. HE PERFORMED ONLY GOSPEL MUSIC ON THE GOSPEL CIRCUIT, REFUSING TO PERFORM HIS ROCK HITS, RESENTING THE SECULAR THEMES OF THE LYRICS.
IN LATE 1962, WHILE EMBARKING ON A GOSPEL MUSIC TOUR OF EUROPE WITH A TEENAGE BILLY PRESTON, LITTLE RICHARD ENTERED INTO A LENGTHLY PHASE OF HIS LIFE WHERE HE LARGELY IGNORED HIS CALLING AS AN EVANGELIST, AND BACKSLID INTO PERFORMING HIS OLD HITS AND RECORDING MORE SECULAR MATERIAL, AS WELL AS INTO SEX ORGIES AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE. HE TOURED EUROPE WITH SAM COOKE SECOND ON THE BILL, AND A THEN TOURED WITH AN UNKNOWN OPENING BAND CALLED 'THE BEATLES'. IN THE SUMMER OF 1963, HE RETURNED TO EUROPE WITH BO DIDDLEY AND A THEN UNKNOWN OPENING BAND CALLED THE ROLLING STONES.
IN 1964, LITTLE RICHARD HIRED A THEN UNKNOWN GUITARIST BY THE NAME OF JAMES MARSHALL HENDRIX, AS PART OF HIS ROAD BAND. JAMES ALSO RECORDED GUITAR PARTS ON LITTLE RICHARD RECORDINGS FROM 1964 AND 1965. (JAMES, WHO BECAME KNOWN AS JIMI HENDRIX SAID, IN 1966, "I WANT TO DO WITH MY GUITAR WHAT LITTLE RICHARD DOES WITH HIS VOICE.") LITTLE RICHARD'S SECULAR RECORDINGS DURING THIS PERIOD FAILED TO PRODUCE THE ANTICIPATED BIG COMEBACK ON THE CHARTS.
IN THE SUMMER OF 1964, LITTLE RICHARD'S MARRIAGE TO ERNESTINE ENDED IN DIVORCE.
IN THE MID-1960s, LITTLE RICHARD RECORDED SENSATIONAL, FUNKY SOUL MUSIC ON COLUMBIA'S R&B/SOUL-BASED OKEH RECORDS WITH HIS OLD FRIENDS LARRY WILLIAMS AND JOHNNY 'GUITAR' WATSON. HOWEVER, DUE TO POOR PROMO, THESE RECORDINGS AGAIN FAILED TO RETURN HIM TO THE TOP OF THE CHARTS, EVEN WITH STUNNING SINGLES SUCH AS "POOR DOG."
LITTLE RICHARD THEN PERFORMED ON THE ROCK REVIVAL CIRCUIT THROUGHOUT THE REMAINDER OF THE 60'S AND DEEP INTO THE 1970'S. THROUGHOUT THIS PERIOD, HE AGAIN WOULD ONLY EXPERIENCE OCCASIONAL, MILD CHART SUCCESS.
FROM A PERSONAL PERSPECTIVE, LITTLE RICHARD'S LIFE WAS FALLING APART. HIS ADDICTIONS AND WILD LIVING THROUGH THE 1960S AND 70S WOULD COME CLOSE TO DESTROYING HIS LIFE.
IN 1977, LITTLE RICHARD FINALLY HIT ROCK BOTTOM. FOLLOWING THE DEATH OF A CLOSE RELATIVE AND ALMOST BEING SHOT OVER A DRUG DEBT INVOLVING ONE OF HIS LONG-TIME BEST FRIENDS (LARRY WILLIAMS), LITTLE RICHARD REPENTED AND RETURNED TO THE LORD. HE WENT BACK INTO THE MINISTRY, THIS TIME IN CONNECTION WITH THE UNIVERSAL REMNANT CHURCH OF GOD. WHILE HE ESCAPED DEATH AND LA'S SEEDY UNDERWORLD BY RETREATING TO THE LORD, HIS FRIEND LARRY WILLIAMS DID NOT. LARRY WAS FOUND SHOT TO DEATH IN LOS ANGELES IN JANUARY 1980.
BROTHER RICHARD DEVOTED HIS TIME FROM THE LATE 1970S TO MID 1980'S TO TOURING AND EVANGELIZING TO HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE AND RECORDED MORE GOSPEL MUSIC. FOR A WHILE HE ALSO REPRESENTED MEMORIAL BIBLES INTERNATIONAL AND SOLD THE BLACK HERITAGE BIBLE, WHICH HIGHLIGHTED THE MANY PEOPLE IN THE BIBLE WHO WERE BLACK. IN HIS MANY SERMONS DURING THIS TIME, HE PROCLAIMED THAT IT WAS NOT POSSIBLE TO PERFORM ROCK AND SERVE GOD AT THE SAME TIME.
IN 1984, THE WORLD'S ATTENTION WAS FOCUSED ON LITTLE RICHARD WITH THE RELEASE OF CHARLES WHITE'S CRITICALLY ACCLAIMED, AUTHORIZED, AND BRUTALLY FRANK BIOGRAPHY 'THE LIFE AND TIMES OF LITTLE RICHARD' (WARNING - THE BIO IS FOR MATURE READERS ONLY, AS IT CONTAINS DETAIL THAT WILL BE OFFENSIVE TO SOME - IT MAY, HOWEVER, BE IDEAL FOR THOSE BOUND IN BISEXUAL OF HOMOSEXUAL SIN AND DRUG ADDICTION - AVAILABLE THROUGH www.amazon.com), IN WHICH RICHARD TESTIFIES ABOUT HIS CONVERSION TO CHRISTIANITY AND SUBSEQUENT DELIVERANCE. AMOUNG MANY TESTIMONIALS FROM ROCK N ROLL MUSIC LEGENDS, MICK JAGGER PROCLAIMED ON THE COVER, "LITTLE RICHARD IS KING." AND JAMES BROWN PROCLAIMED "LITTLE RICHARD IS MY IDOL."
ON THE HEELS OF THIS EVENT, COUPLED WITH THE OPENING OF THE ROCK AND ROLL HALL OF FAME AND HIS INDUCTION INTO SAME, LITTLE RICHARD LAUNCHED ANOTHER COMEBACK IN MUSIC AND MOVIES, THIS TIME RECORDING AN ALBUM OF INSPIRATIONAL ROCK AND ROLL MUSIC. EVER SINCE, HE HAS ATTEMPTED TO RECONCILE HIS ROLE AS A ROCK AND ROLL STAR AND HIS ROLE AS A MINISTER OF THE GOSPEL.
AS DETAILED IN WHITE'S BIOGRAPHY (2003 revision, pg. 221), RICHARD'S DILEMMA - WHETHER TO BE A MINISTER OR TO SING ROCK AND ROLL - CAME TO A HEAD WHEN HE WAS WORKING ON THE FEATURE SOUNDTRACK FOR THE 1985 MOVIE "DOWN AND OUT IN BEVERLY HILLS" (IN WHICH HE ALSO CO-STARRED). HE ENROLLED HIS OLD FRIEND BILLY PRESTON TO HELP HIM WRITE A SONG WITH SPIRITUAL LYRICS THAT WOULD SOUND LIKE ROCK AND ROLL. THE RESULT WAS "GREAT GOD A'MIGHTY", WHICH HE CHANGED TO BE CALLED "IT'S A MATTER OF TIME", REFLECTING THE CONFLICT IN HIS MIND. HE SAID, "I BELIEVE THERE IS GOOD AND BAD IN EVERYTHING. I BELIEVE SOME ROCK 'N ROLL MUSIC IS REALLY BAD, BUT I BELIEVE THAT THERE IS SOME NOT AS BAD. I BELIEVE IF THE MESSAGE IS POSITIVE AND ELEVATING, AND WHOLESOME AND UPLIFTING, THIS MAKES YOU THINK CLEARLY. IF IT'S NOT, THEN IT IS NOT GOOD EVEN IN GOSPEL." THE TRACK BECAME HIS FIRST HIT IN OVER A DECADE AND PART OF A NEW 'MESSAGES IN RHYTHM' ALBUM PACKAGED BY WEA RECORDS UNDER THE TITLE "LIFETIME FRIEND" IN 1986.
LITTLE RICHARD CALLED HIS NEW MUSIC, "MESSAGE MUSIC," STATING, "MY MOTHER DIED NOT LONG AGO AND IT WAS ONLY A FEW MONTHS BEFORE SHE DIED THAT SHE MADE ME PROMISE THAT I'D STAY WITH THE LORD. I HAVE CONTENTMENT AND PEACE OF MIND, WHICH IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN ANYTHING ELSE. I AM GOING TO STAY WITH THE LORD AND JUST TRAVEL AROUND."
INDEED, LITTLE RICHARD IS DOING JUST THAT, TRAVELLING THE WORLD, RECORDING THE ODD TRACK NOW AND THEN (check out the amazing "GET RHYTHM" he recorded in 2002 for the Johnny Cash Tribute album 'Kindred Spirits' and the 2006 duet on Jerry Lee's 'Last Man Standing'), AND PERFORMING HIS CLASSIC R&B HITS, AS WELL AS GOSPEL/INSPIRATIONAL SONGS IN HIS ORIGINAL ROCKING STYLE.
PLEASE PRAY: DEAR GOD, PLEASE GUIDE, PROTECT AND DIRECT BROTHER RICHARD IN HIS LIFE IN REGARD TO HIS CALLING. IN JESUS NAME. AMEN!!
IN 1956, CASHBOX AWARDED LITTLE RICHARD THE CASHBOX TRIPLE CROWN AWARD FOR "LONG TALL SALLY."
IN 1986, LITTLE RICHARD WAS ONE OF THE FIRST GROUP OF SEVEN ARTISTS INDUCTED INTO THE ROCK AND ROLL HALL OF FAME.
In 1990, LITTLE RICHARD WAS HONORED WITH A STAR ON HOLLYWOOD'S WALK OF FAME.
IN 1993, LITTLE RICHARD RECEIVED AN HONARARY LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT GRAMMY FROM THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF RECORDING ARTS AND SCIENCES (NARAS).
IN 1994, LITTLE RICHARD WAS THE FOURTH RECORDING ARTIST (THE OTHERS BEING RAY CHARLES, ARETHA FRANKLIN AND JAMES BROWN) TO BE RECOGNIZED WITH THE LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT PIONEER AWARD FROM THE RHYTHM AND BLUES FOUNDATION.
IN 1997, LITTLE RICHARD RECEIVED THE AMERICAN MUSIC AWARDS - LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD OF MERIT.
IN 2002, DURING BMI'S 50TH ANNUAL POP MUSIC AWARD CELEBRATION, LITTLE RICHARD, ALONG WITH BO DIDDLEY AND CHUCK BERRY, WERE AWARDED THE FIRST EVER BMI ICON AWARDS IN RECOGNITION OF THEIR "UNIQUE AND INDELIBLE INFLUENCE ON GENERATIONS OF MUSIC MAKERS."
IN 2002, LITTLE RICHARD WAS ALSO INDUCTED INTO THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF COLORED PEOPLE (NAACP) HALL OF FAME FOR "HAVING DISTINGUISHED HIMSELF AS NOT ONLY AN UNPARALLELED MUSICAL GENIUS, BUT ALSO AS A UNIQUE AND INNOVATIVE PERFORMING ARTIST - FUSING PURE VOCAL TALENT WITH EXHILERATING SHOWMANSHIP."
IN 2003, LITTLE RICHARD WAS INDUCTED INTO THE SONGWRITERS HALL OF FAME.
IN 2004, ROLLING STONE MAGAZINE RANKED LITTLE RICHARD NUMBER 8 ON THEIR LIST OF THE GREATEST ARTISTS OF ALL TIME, ALTHOUGH AT LEAST SIX OF THE SEVEN ARTISTS WHO PRECEEDED HIM ON THE LIST WERE ALL INFLUENCED BY LITTLE RICHARD AND HIS MUSIC.
IN 2006, LITTLE RICHARD WAS INDUCTED INTO THE APOLLO LEGENDS HALL OF FAME, AT THE SAME TIME AS ELLA FITZGERALD AND GLADYS KNIGHT AND THE PIPS.
IN 2007, LITTLE RICHARD's 1955 ORIGINAL HIT 'TUTTI FRUTTI' TOPPED MOJO MAGAZINE'S POLL TO FIND THE 100 RECORDS THAT CHANGED THE WORLD. THE RECORD, DUBBED "A TORRENT OF FILTH WAILED BY A BISEXUAL ALIEN," BEAT THE BEATLES' 'I WANT TO HOLD YOUR HAND' (2nd place) AND ELVIS PRESLEY'S 'HEARTBREAK HOTEL' (3rd place) TO CLAIM THE TOP SPOT. THE NEW LIST WAS COMPILED AND VOTED ON BY AN ECLECTIC PANEL OF SUPERSTARS, INCLUDING BJORK, TORI AMOS, TOM WAITS, BRIAN WILSON, PETE WENTZ AND STEVE EARL. AND MOJO EDITORS CLAIMED THAT THE 100 "ALBUMS, SINGLES, AND 78s" THAT MADE THE LIST MAKE UP "THE MOST INFLUENCIAL AND INSPIRATIONAL RECORDINGS EVER MADE." HAILING 'TUTTI FRUTTI' AS THE THE SOUND OF THE BIRTH OF ROCK 'N' ROLL, MOJO STATED, "ONE CAN ONLY IMAGINE HOW IT MUST'VE SOUNDED WHEN THE SONG EXPLODED ACROSS THE AIRWAVES."
IN 2009, LITTLE RICHARD WAS INDUCTED INTO THE LOUISIANA MUSIC HALL OF FAME.
Who I'd like to meet: Upcoming Concerts/Performances:
(Subject to Change - Check with Venues)
Ticket info: www.mojam.com, www.pollstar.com, or www.ticketmaster.com OR check with the venues directly
Professional booking inquiries, please contact:
Mr. Dick Alen
William Morris Agencies
Representatives for Little Richard
One William Morris Place
Beverly Hills, California 90212
Phone: (310) 859-4000
Fax: (310) 859-4462
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Hi Thanks for the tip to check out Little Milton Sun Years, great site I have contacted the site to join. Hope you are well. Rock on Eric"O" Rock'n'Roll Palace/germany
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