Little Richard

Little Richard was famously quoted as once saying "Rock n Roll is evil, because Rock n Roll makes you take drugs, and drugs turn you into a homosexual". The Impressions were inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 2003. A made-for-TV film, Little Richard (2000) starred Leon in the title role. He died on December 26, 1999 in Roswell, Georgia. He appeared in the movie Down and Out in Beverly Hills in 1986 and scored his first major hit in years with "Great Gosh-a-Mighty!" which led to a resurgence in popularity. He was unable to perform until 1997, when he released the album New World Order. In 1998, he had to have his right leg amputated due to diabetes. In 1986, when the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame opened, Little Richard was among the first inductees. On August 14, 1990, Mayfield was paralyzed from the neck down after stage lighting equipment fell on him at a concert in Brooklyn, New York.

Since then, Little Richard has had a periodic career in movies, as well as releasing occasional singles and enduring as one of the legendary flamboyant pioneers of rock and roll. Characteristically, Mayfield's lyrics included hard-hitting commentary on the state of affairs in black, urban ghettos at the time, previously unheard of in blaxploitation films. The Rolling Stones opened for Richard and the Everly Brothers before they ever had a recording contract. The album was influential in the development of funk, rock and roll, R&B, soul, gospel and pop music. Richard took the Beatles with him on a tour of Hamburg, and they performed with him at the Star Club. In 1970, Mayfield left The Impressions and began a solo career, eventually peaking with Superfly (1972), one of the most influential films, soundtracks and albums in history. The Rolling Stones and The Beatles, long-time fans, supported him. The Impressions reached the height of their popularity in the mid to late 1960s, with a string of Mayfield compositions that included "Keep On Pushin'," "People, Get Ready," "Choice of Colors," "This is My Country," and "We People Who Are Darker than Blue." Mayfield's "We're a Winner" became a virtual anthem of the black power/black pride movement.

In 1962, Little Richard returned with an enthusiastically received tour of the United Kingdom. "Amen," an updated version of an old gospel tune, was included in the soundtrack of 1963 MGM release "Lilies of the Field," which starred Sidney Poitier. While Specialty Records released a few new songs based on past sessions, Richard did little musically, releasing some gospel songs in the early 1960s. The band had hits with "For Your Precious Love" and "Gypsy Woman." After Butler left the group and was replaced with Fred Cash, Mayfield became lead singer, frequently composing for the band, as well. Richard then enrolled in a Christian university in Alabama. Mayfield's career began in 1958 (see 1958 in music), when he formed The Impressions with Jerry Butler, Sam Gooden, Richad Brooks, and Arthur Brooks. Little Richard quit the music business suddenly in 1957, while in the middle of an Australian tour; he reportedly renounced his rock and roll lifestyle, removed four diamond rings worth $8,000 from his fingers and threw them into Sydney's Hunter River. This "message music" became extremely popular during the period of political ferment and social upheaval of the 1960s and '70s.

As an example of Richard's craftsmanship, he and Blackwell rehearsed the line from "Long Tall Sally", "He saw Aunt Mary coming and he ducked back in the alley" for a full day until he achieved machine-gun precision. Perhaps most notably, Mayfield was among the first of a new wave of mainstream African-American R&B performing artists and composers who injected social commentary into their work. Despite the raw sound of his music, the singles were carefully put together, as documented on the three-volume album The Specialty Sessions, which include many false starts and variations. Curtis Mayfield (June 3, 1942 - December 26, 1999) was an African American soul, funk and R&B singer, songwriter and noted guitarist best known for his soundtrack to the blaxploitation film Superfly. Mayfield came to prominence as lead singer/songwriter for The Impressions, then went on to have a successful solo career. His frantic performing style can be seen in such period films as Don't Knock the Rock (1956) and The Girl Can't Help It (1956), for which he sang the title song, written by Bobby Troup. In the next few years, Richard had several more hits, including "Long Tall Sally", "Slippin' and Slidin'", "Jenny, Jenny" and "Good Golly, Miss Molly".

The song, with its introductory "Womp-bomp-a-loom-op-a-womp-bam-boom!" became the model for many future Little Richard songs, with its driving piano, saxophone solo by Lee Allen and its unrelenting beat. (Tutti-frutti was a slang term meaning a "gay male" and booty means "buttocks"). The lyrics were changed from "Tutti-frutti loose booty" to "Tutti frutti all rooty" because record producer Bumps Blackwell felt they were over the line. During a break in that session, Richard began singing an impromptu recital of "Tutti Frutti", an obscene, lusty song he had been singing on stage.

Richard Penniman had begun his career singing with Johnny Otis, but had little success until he sent a demo tape to Specialty Records in 1955, and met for a recording session in New Orleans. Bing Crosby - 'Pennies from Heaven' - Ella Fitzgerald, was all I heard." His early recording career in the 1950s was a mix of blues music and rhythm and blues, heavily steeped in gospel music, but with a driving beat and breathlessly delivered lyrics that marked a decidedly new kind of music. Little Richard (born Richard Wayne Penniman, December 5, 1932 in Macon, Georgia) is a pioneer of rock and roll though he says (quoted in Hamm 1979, p.391) he "came from a family where my people didn't like rhythm and blues. 1996 - Shag on Down by the Union Hall.

1992 - Shake It All About. 1988 - Lucille. 1977 - Now. 1976 - Little Richard Live.

1976 - Sings. 1975 - Keep a Knockin'. 1974 - Recorded Live. 1974 - Talkin' 'Bout Soul.

1973 - Rip It Up. 1972 - You Cant Keep a Good Man Down. 1972 - The Original. 1972 - Dollars.

1971 - The Second Coming. 1971 - The Rill Thing. Big. 1971 - Mr.

1970 - Well Alright!. 1970 - Little Richard. 1970 - Rock Hard Rock Heavy. 1969 - Right Now.

1969 - Little Richard. 1969 - Good Golly Miss Molly. 1967 - Rock N Roll Forever. 1967 - The Explosive Little Richard.

1965 - The Wild and Frantic Little Richard. 1965 - Little Richard Is Back. 1964 - Sings the Gospel. 1963 - Sings Spirituals.

1962 - King of the Gospel Singers. 2. 1960 - Pray Along with Little Richard, Vol. 1.

1960 - Pray Along with Little Richard, Vol. 1960 - Clap Your Hands. 1959 - The Fabulous Little Richard. 1957 - Here's Little Richard.

3. 1957 - Little Richard, Vol. 2. 1957 - Little Richard, Vol.

1. 1957 - Little Richard, Vol. 1956 - Cast a Long Shadow.