In this special presentation of RockPopand Roll, host Rob Nichols remembers the songs and what made Little Richard a legend – and architect – in the making of rock and roll.
Little Richard passed away at age 87 on May 9, 2020. Of all the patriarchs of rock and roll music, Little Richard may have been the most outrageous, had the most hits in the shortest period of time, and could arguably be ahead of Elvis in his early takeover of the rock and roll libido of millions rock and roll fans.
He was a screaming, inspired, piano playing black man versed in gospel music. And church. And sex. With reckless stage antics with a mouth that wouldn’t stop, he had the hits. Little Richard was both the rocking and the rolling ignitor of the explosion of rock and roll music in the 1950s.
Little Richard recorded his first hits for a small label, Specialty Records, for just two years, from September 1955 to October 1957, but those recording sessions may rank as the most influential in the history of rock and roll music. His musicality, charisma, and wild stage show created a rock & roll blueprint followed by everyone from James Brown to the Beatles, From Jimi Hendrix to CCR, to Bruce Springsteen and Prince.
Hear the music again. Remember why Little Richard really matters – more than you may have thought – in rock and roll history.