Little Richard dies

Barry Blackwood · Post by **Barry Blackwood** » 9 May 2020 7:41 am

https://www.theguardian.com/music/2020/ ... ll-pioneer

Roger Rettig · Post by **Roger Rettig** » 9 May 2020 9:34 am

Wow - the best rock and roll singer of them all!

RIP Richard Penniman!

Post by **Dave Mudgett** » 9 May 2020 9:54 am

To me, "The Voice" of real rock and roll. He had a level of freedom in his approach that shook everything up. Often imitated, never duplicated. RIP, Richard Penniman.

Roger Rettig · Post by **Roger Rettig** » 9 May 2020 10:05 am

I will never forget a well-written obituary in the Sunday Telegraph marking Elvis' passing. It said:

"Jerry Lee had the talent, Chuck Berry had the wit, Little Richard had the voice but Elvis had the moment!"

I think the writer had them weighed up pretty accurately.

Billy Murdoch · Post by **Billy Murdoch** » 9 May 2020 11:36 am

When I first Heard Little Richard I was instantly hooked,I wore the grooves out on all His records
R.I.P.

Godfrey Arthur · Post by **Godfrey Arthur** » 9 May 2020 4:59 pm

GODSPEED RICHARD PENNIMAN!!!

A force majeure in the universe of music!

He did co-write his first hits Lucille and Tutti Frutti.

He taught the Beatles how to holler and scream!

Back in the day, Good Golly was one of the songs I sang on the high school gig list!

Tutti Frutti at the Hall of fame

https://youtu.be/ZSx91WBQLpg

Little Richard bares his soul on Letterman

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bqxbyZDoFnk

Andy DePaule · Post by **Andy DePaule** » 9 May 2020 8:26 pm

That is sad news.
Got to see him live at the Filmore in San Francisco in the 60's.
Vibrant magnetic performer like no other.

Mitch Drumm · Post by **Mitch Drumm** » 10 May 2020 2:07 am

He was a pistol....

Loved his many appearances on Johnny Carson's "Tonight Show".

Got to see him at Harrah's in South Lake Tahoe circa 1965---he and Jerry Lee Lewis on the same bill, doing alternating sets all night long.

He always had the best conk in the business:

And he was never far from his makeup kit:

Fred Treece · Post by **Fred Treece** » 10 May 2020 7:34 am

Wow, great pics! Thanks for posting, all.
He was a great singer, writer, and performer - the embodiment of rock n roll energy. I bet an autopsy would show that his heart was a nuclear reactor.

Mike Perlowin RIP · Post by **Mike Perlowin RIP** » 10 May 2020 12:15 pm

We all play musIc, but he changed music.

Life today would not be the same if he had not given us his gifts.

David Ball · Post by **David Ball** » 10 May 2020 5:18 pm

Years ago, my baby sister was returning from a business trip to California when she got shifted from coach to first class on her flight.

The fellow she was seated next to was another born again Christian, with whom she immediately struck up a conversation.

When she landed in Atlanta, hours later, she commented about how nice the fellow she had been with for a coast coast flight had been. Said that he had gone by "Little Richard" as a stage name, and had I ever heard of him....

Needless to say, I was floored. A few years of age apparently makes a lot of difference!

Earnest Bovine · Post by **Earnest Bovine** » 10 May 2020 7:44 pm

There's a Little Richard tribute band in L.A. called Big Dick.

Godfrey Arthur · Post by **Godfrey Arthur** » 11 May 2020 2:39 am

Earnest Bovine wrote:There's a Little Richard tribute band in L.A. called Big Dick.

Speaking of, don't know if it was factual but there was a David Crosby story that involved these two.

Chris Boyd · Post by **Chris Boyd** » 11 May 2020 4:16 am

A true original...may he rest in peace...thank you Richard..

Tracy Sheehan · Post by **Tracy Sheehan** » 16 May 2020 1:22 pm

I have read where LRs Tuti Fruti sp,is firs t hit song was written by Hank Williams. Tracy

Fred Treece · Post by **Fred Treece** » 16 May 2020 11:14 pm

Hank wrote a song called Rootie Tootie. There’s no womp boppaloobop alop bam boom in it anywhere.

Godfrey Arthur · Post by **Godfrey Arthur** » 17 May 2020 12:13 pm

Fred Treece wrote:Hank wrote a song called Rootie Tootie. There’s no womp boppaloobop alop bam boom in it anywhere.

Back then Little Richard told stories that since he was black he wasn't placed on labels supporting white artists. One would think that if he didn't have anything to do with writing the song, he wouldn't have been given credit.

Fred Treece · Post by **Fred Treece** » 17 May 2020 12:18 pm

There ya go.

Mitch Drumm · Post by **Mitch Drumm** » 17 May 2020 1:07 pm

Dorothy LaBostrie has contended she wrote Tutti Frutti entirely by herself, but most generally give her (possible) credit only for changing the original "Good Booty" lyric to "Tutti Frutti". Richard's producer (Bumps Blackwell) knew the original lyric had no chance to get on radio.

Blackwell wasn't too amused by Richard's playing at times..."He only plays in one key" (not that it mattered), so Huey Smith and James Booker are said to be on some of his early records.

I've seen Richard interviewed multiple times and he has never mentioned LaBostrie at all. He says he'd been singing it with the naughty lyrics for years in and around Macon--when he was under Billy Wright's influence.

She apparently was present at the New Orleans studio when the song was done, but doesn't seem to have any recorded credits prior to TF. She did write another song or two for Richard and also "Don't Mess With My Man"--an early Irma Thomas semi-hit.

BMI gives Richard credit for 154 titles, including:

She'll Be Comin' Around The Mountain

When The Saints Go Marching In

He's Got The Whole World In His Hands

Itsy Bitsy Spider

Just A Closer Walk With Thee

All re-writes, I assume.

He'll be buried in Huntsville, Alabama---where he studied religion after he first renounced the devil's music.