Little Richard

April 26, 2009

Good Golly Miss Molly
It’s Little Richard

By Rick Coates 4/27/09

“The Architect of Rock-n-Roll” Little Richard is closing in on 60 years as a performer. Now 76, Little Richard is still putting the “Wooo” and “A-Wop-bop-a-loo-lop a-lop-bam-boo” in his music.
“Plus I still look good,” laughs Little Richard. “God has blessed me with a long and healthy life, so I plan to keep making the most of it.”
Little Richard rolls into Northern Michigan this weekend with his 11-piece band to perform at the Odawa Casino Resort in Petoskey on Saturday May 2. He brings a repertoire of songs that laid the foundation for rock-n-roll, including such hits as “Tutti-Frutti” “Long Tall Sally” “Good Golly Miss Molly” “Lucille” “Jenny, Jenny” and several others. Little Richard is known as rock music’s “great emancipator.” Some feel he is the true “king” of rock and roll.
“I always say if Elvis was the King, then I am the Queen of Rock-n-Roll,” said Little Richard. “Sure, I appreciate the accolades, but for me this about performing for the fans, it is how it all started and it remains my focus. For 60 years I have loved all aspects of show business.”

JUST FOR LAUGHS
He burst onto the music scene in the early ‘50s but his effeminate look and wild stage presence frightened the older generation. But for Little Richard he laughed it all off.
“I wanted to add some showmanship to my music, create some energy, something to talk about,” said Little Richard. “I wore my hair longer than the other performers and I wore makeup on stage along with flamboyant clothes and danced around. I think it scared some.”
When Little Richard hit it big with “Tutti-Frutti” in 1956, music industry executives quickly had Elvis perform the song. Eventually, Pat Boone recorded the song to essentially “whiten” it. Boone’s recorded version would actually climb higher than Richard’s on the charts. But Little Richard is not bitter.
“Those guys who covered my songs helped me become a millionaire,” said Little Richard. “It was the way things were done in those days. I truly believe Elvis was our liberator. He took black songs to white audiences and made them acceptable to them. I used to hear people tell me that they would put Pat Boone’s 45 cover (picture) next to their stereo to trick their parents, but actually play my version of the song.”
In an interview several years later, Pat Boone told the media “I never wanted to do the song, I didn’t understand it, but the record label had me do it, they said it would make a lot of money and be a hit.”

EARLY DAYS
Little Richard just chuckles as he recalls those early years and the song that launched his career.
“I was a dishwasher at the bus station back in Macon, Georgia where I grew up. And I would sing ‘Tutti Frutti’ every night as a way to get back at my boss who didn’t treat me well,” said Little Richard. “So I would sing ‘A-Wop-bop-a-loo-lop a-lop-bam-boo’ as he walked by because he didn’t know what it meant; I didn’t either, but it made feel better.”
After five years and a string of hits, Little Richard started singing gospel music out of frustration with the rock music industry and battling his record label for royalty payments. In 1962 he was coaxed back into rock and roll by touring Europe where he had legions of fans. Those fans included a young Mick Jagger and Paul McCartney, who often cite Little Richard as being among their greatest influences.
One of his 1962 shows included having the Beatles open for him. When he returned to the States, he formed a new band that included rock-n-roll’s greatest guitarist, Jimi Hendrix.
“I knew Jimi Hendrix was something special the first time I heard him play the guitar. Well, his guitar did for rock and roll what my voice did, it put the ‘woooo’ in it,” said Little Richard. “James Brown’s first band was with me; we were lifelong friends. That band also included Billy Preston who was 14 when he started playing keyboards for me. I knew all three of those guys wouldn’t last long in my band.”

LITTLE COCAINE
Despite success and worldwide fame, the tolls of the music business weighed on Little Richard as he developed a heavy drug habit. He kicked the drug habit years ago when he left the business again to become an ordained minister.
“I used to joke with everyone and say my nickname should have been ‘Little Cocaine,’ as I used to use so much that my nose got big enough to back a truck in and unload the stuff and drive right on out.”
So how did he get his actual nickname, Little Richard? (His real name Richard Wayne Penniman).
“As a kid I was fascinated with these traveling medicine shows that would come through town. These guys were flamboyant, they dressed in robes and wore makeup. Well, I wasn’t getting along with my father and I left home at 14,” said Little Richard. “By the time I was turned 15, I was traveling with a minstrel show and everyone called me Little Richard, so I adopted it as a stage name.”
At 76, Little Richard remains as vibrant as ever. He shows no signs of slowing down and critics point to his stage show being as strong as ever.
“I have slowed down somewhat, because I am financially in a position to pick and choose the shows I want to do. But I love performing on stage; plus there are a lot of people who work for me who depend on me to tour. I am glad the critics think I am as strong as ever because I think so as well, I have a great band and I really feel the best ever and the stage show is also at its best.”
Little Richard continues to “Woooo” his fans new and old alike. He is a member of the Rock-n-Roll Hall of Fame’s first induction class in 1986 and Rolling Stone ranks him the eighth Greatest Rock and Roll Star of all time. He will perform all of hits with his signature stage antics Saturday May 2 at the Odawa Casino Resort in Petoskey. Tickets are selling quickly and are expected to sell out. For ticket or show information check out odawacasino.com or call the box office at 1-800-585-3737.