"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 musician’s son, Danny Jones Penniman, confirmed the pioneer’s death to Rolling Stone, adding that the cause of death was cancer.
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 met Richard briefly after a show in Cardiff in 1963 (Bo Diddley, the Everley Brothers, the Stones, a "remarkable bill"). He was quite something, and yes, not "jazz" but so many people of my age and tastes came to jazz off the back of his and Fats Domino's etc records and their great little bands, New Orleans based. RIP indeed. BN.
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 met Richard briefly after a show in Cardiff in 1963 (Bo Diddley, the Everley Brothers, the Stones, a "remarkable bill"). He was quite something, and yes, not "jazz" but so many people of my age and tastes came to jazz off the back of his and Fats Domino's etc records and their great little bands, New Orleans based. RIP indeed. BN.
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