Little Richard, Founding Father of Rock Who Broke Musical Barriers, Dead at 87
Source: Rolling Stone
Little Richard, a founding father of rock and roll whose fervent shrieks, flamboyant garb, and joyful, gender-bending persona embodied the spirit and sound of that new art form, died Saturday. He was 87. The musicians son, Danny Penniman, confirmed the pioneers death to Rolling Stone, but said the cause of death was unknown.
Starting with Tutti Frutti in 1956, Little Richard cut a series of unstoppable hits Long Tall Sally and Rip It Up that same year, Lucille in 1957, and Good Golly Miss Molly in 1958 driven by his simple, pumping piano, gospel-influenced vocal exclamations and sexually charged (often gibberish) lyrics. I heard Little Richard and Jerry Lee Lewis, and that was it, Elton John told Rolling Stone in 1973. I didnt ever want to be anything else. Im more of a Little Richard stylist than a Jerry Lee Lewis, I think. Jerry Lee is a very intricate piano player and very skillful, but Little Richard is more of a pounder.
Although he never hit the top 10 again after 1958, Little Richards influence was massive. The Beatles recorded several of his songs, including Long Tall Sally, and Paul McCartneys singing on those tracks and the Beatles own Im Down paid tribute to Little Richards shredded-throat style. His songs became part of the rock and roll canon, covered over the decades by everyone from the Everly Brothers, the Kinks, and Creedence Clearwater Revival to Elvis Costello and the Scorpions.
Little Richards stage persona his pompadours, androgynous makeup and glass-bead shirts also set the standard for rock and roll showmanship; Prince, to cite one obvious example, owed a sizable debt to the musician. Prince is the Little Richard of his generation, Richard told Joan Rivers in 1989 before looking at the camera and addressing Prince. I was wearing purple before you was wearing it!
Read more: https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/little-richard-dead-48505/
Clash City Rocker
(3,402 posts)spike jones
(1,691 posts)is considered the most inspired rock lyric ever recorded.
tulipsandroses
(5,131 posts)He will be missed.
BumRushDaShow
(129,737 posts)Talk about a ball of energy. Like a "younger" version of Chuck Berry.
What a loss to the entertainment world. R.I.P.
turbinetree
(24,735 posts)hotrod0808
(323 posts)Rest in peace, Little Richard, and thank you for all of the music.
mahatmakanejeeves
(57,675 posts)Little Richard (1932-2020) consenting to pose with obscure opening act in Hamburg, 1962:
Link to tweet
Drum
(9,203 posts)Wow Pauls eyebrows in that photo!
mahatmakanejeeves
(57,675 posts)frazzled
(18,402 posts)I know he's in a better place, while his work lives on in his joyous music and persona.
I offer this Tom Snyder interview with Little Richard from 1997 (there's a better one I remember, from the earlier incarnation of Snyder's Tomorrow Show, which I also adored during the 70s and early 80s). But this one is great too:
If I could find it on a non-pirate site I'd also post famed photographer/fillmmaker William Klein's The Little Richard Story.
?itok=2n6g1az2
mr_lebowski
(33,643 posts)Dude was great, man.
Cross Gently, Sir Richard ...
bedazzled
(1,771 posts)LOVE THIS!
Ford_Prefect
(7,927 posts)Last edited Sat May 9, 2020, 03:33 PM - Edit history (1)
Rock on Richard, Rock on.
"Gonna sing a little song of love for you one more time!"
Maxheader
(4,374 posts)Rock on..
MissMillie
(38,591 posts)singing the national anthems...
RIP
catbyte
(34,499 posts)He was hilarious as their neighbor.
iluvtennis
(19,885 posts)abqtommy
(14,118 posts)I saw this earlier today but one site claimed Little Richard's death was a hoax so I didn't post. Here it is:
* https://www.theguardian.com/music/gallery/2020/may/09/little-richard-a-life-in-pictures
I enjoyed his music as boy and man and he influenced me to be a musician...
blogslut
(38,021 posts)One and only. Whatever it is they got, they stole it from Richard Penniman.
robersl
(83 posts)One thing that often gets lost amidst the flamboyance and style of his performances - Richard was a phenomenal singer!