This morning I learnt that one of the great legends of rock and roll, whose music we would listen and dance to and still do, passed away from bone cancer at Tullahoma, Tennessee, at the age of 87.
Little Richard –just mention his name and just about every old-time rocker will go bonkers!
He was born Richard Wayne Penniman in Macon, Georgia, and is often described as the innovator, originator and architect of rock `n’ roll. He was kicked out of his home because his dad thought he had gay tendencies which in those days was considered taboo.
So while working odd jobs to support himself, he started to record music, none of which made it to the big time initially.
Then came his big break in 1955 when he wrote a song called “Tutti Frutti” (‘all fruits’ in Italian) which became a big hit when it was recorded with altered lyrics. In the days before Google, we just had radio and music magazines to rely on and it was well known that the original lyrics, which can now be found on Google, went something like this :
“Tutti Frutti, good booty
If it don’t fit, don’t force it
You can grease it, make it easy”
It was meant to be an ode to gay folk but since songs suggesting homosexuality were a no-no, the lyrics were altered to:
“Tutti Frutti, aw rooty
Tutti Frutti, aw rooty.”
Coupled with the opening rock and roll cry “Whop bop b-luma b-bob bam bom”, the song was a super-hit and set the stage for future hits such as “Good Golly Miss Molly”, Long Tall Sally” (The Beatles in their early days recorded their versions of these two songs) and “Rip It Up” (Elvis Presley, The King, also recorded this later as did many other great musicians).
Following these great hits, there was no stopping this piano-pounding champion who had this androgynous magic about him. In 1962, he toured Europe and none other than the Beatles opened up (yes, The Beatles were his supporting act) for him at various venues.
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The following year in 1963, Little Richard was asked to help prop up a sagging tour featuring Bo Diddley, The Everly Brothers and, wait for this , The Rolling Stones! Imagine a tour with The Stones was turning out to be a flop and Little Richard saved the day!
Later on he signed guitar God Jimi Hendrix to join his band. There was no doubting his power!
Even Elton John confessed to having been inspired by this legend. Actually, many of the British Invasion bands have at one time or the other said they got their early influences from this wizard.
Later in the 60s, at The Atlantic City pop festival, this flamboyant artist with his spectacular performance actually buried the uber popular headliner Janis Joplin!
Many who attended the Toronto pop festival where John Lennon, post-Beatles, was the headliner also claim that Little Richard sidelined the great composer.
I also remember in the early 70s on my college campus, despite the onslaught of such greats as Led Zeppelin, Jimi Hendrix, Carlos Santana and many more, whenever Little Richard came on everyone would claim he was the original maestro of rock and roll!
Much later when Prince came on the scene, many declared that he probably was influenced by the genius Little Richard who as lore has it once goaded Prince about how he, the guru Little Richard, first wore purple.
Little Richard was one of the first inductees into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame when it first started inducting in 1986. This artiste extraordinaire has won several awards in his lifetime and his first international hit “Tutti Frutti” was added to the US Library of Congress National Recording Registry in 2010 stating that the hit, with its original a cappella introduction, heralded a new era in music.
Little Richard, you will forever be enshrined in the annals of rock and roll history.
(A financial and mortgage advisor, Lachman Balani lives in Mississauga)
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