Little Richard Tribute - RIP

Little Richard Penniman (1932 - 2020) was without a doubt the wildest of the early rock giants. His style and persona tore open whole new areas of artistic expression and set the template for rock as a truly wild and unbridled music. Because of all this -- and his unbelievably explosive stage shows -- the brilliance of his epic vocals and driving piano are often overlooked. He was a huge influence on the likes of James Brown, Paul McCartney, Otis Redding, and Prince, to name only a few of his more direct descendants. But in attitude and energy, he influenced almost all of rock music. He quite literally taught rock music how to scream.

To quote the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame:

He claims to be "the architect of rock and roll," and history would seem to bear out Little Richard's boast. More than any other performer... Little Richard blew the lid off the Fifties, laying the foundation for rock and roll with his explosive music and charismatic persona. On record, he made spine-tingling rock and roll. His frantically charged piano playing and raspy, shouted vocals on such classics as "Tutti Frutti," "Long Tall Sally" and "Good Golly, Miss Molly" defined the dynamic sound of rock and roll. Onstage, he'd deliver wild, piano-pounding epistles while costumed in sequined vests, mascara, lipstick, and a pompadour that shook with every thundering beat. His road band, the Upsetters, has been credited by James Brown and others with first putting the funk in the rock and roll beat.

Check out tributes to other pioneers of rock and roll:
Fats Domino
   • RIP Fats Domino  "The Fat Man" 1949  
Chuck Berry
   • Farewell Chuck Berry - Bye-Bye Johnny (Goo...  
Little Richard
   • Little Richard Tribute - RIP  
Jerry Lee Lewis
   • Jerry Lee Lewis Tribute -- (Don't Put) No ...