Little Richard, Founding Father of Rock Who Broke Musical Barriers, Dead at 87

By artappraiser on Sat, 05/09/2020 - 10:37am |

Little Richard, one of rock's founding fathers who set the template that generations of musicians would follow, has died at 87 https://t.co/nwu9qMA9wf
— Rolling Stone (@RollingStone) May 9, 2020

URL:

https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/little-richard-dead-48505/

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I am crazy about this little video of him I posted here on Creative Corner back in 2018. I love the old black-and-white clip, but especially adore the end where at the end of a wild piano riff he slows down and the camera focuses on a dreamy look on his face:

A birthday salute to Little Richard, born 86 years ago today in Macon, Georgia. pic.twitter.com/e0ueQ5pJog
— Dust-to-Digital (@dusttodigital) December 5, 2018

The music media back in the heyday of rock before Bowie went bi-gender often treated him as gimmicky along the lines of Liberace's relationship to classical performance. But they got it wrong. He was a great radical artist. Rolling Stone has it right now: "massively influential". A giant really.

by artappraiser on Sat, 05/09/2020 - 10:50am

https://youtu.be/LVIttmFAzek

by PeraclesPlease on Sat, 05/09/2020 - 11:18am

AWESOME to see that whole video! I actually love how it's quite obviously choreographed to get across the wildness without total abandon.The goofy stiff grownup white studio audience included, they make me laugh. I cannot see anything other than his own hand--not just obeying the orders of a record co. boss- he was the ultimate in "cross genre", trying break barriers. (I.E. rockabilly, Jerry Lee Lewis is out there...what does it matter, it's all music and we want to sell it and to sell it you have to have people with money to buy...)

by artappraiser on Sat, 05/09/2020 - 11:36am

In 2004 Little Richard wrote a profile of himself for our Immortals issue. He explained why he was so dangerous at the time — because was the first black artist whose records the white kids were starting to buy https://t.co/cX2qTkecyH pic.twitter.com/k8wG3I82rl
— Rolling Stone (@RollingStone) May 9, 2020

Less music, more time for making outfits: Rock's first unstoppable force, Little Richard, talks to Neil Strauss in 2013. Revisit the feature here https://t.co/EKWHF3xYai pic.twitter.com/eZ8VjEhUlB
— Rolling Stone (@RollingStone) May 9, 2020

(There's more archive stuff on their Twitter feed, these were the ones that interested me.)

by artappraiser on Sat, 05/09/2020 - 12:03pm

"The antiques rattled. My parents looked stunned. In one magical moment, every fear of my white family had been laid bare: an uninvited, screaming, flamboyant black man was in the living room. Even Dr. Spock hadn't warned them about this." —John Waters https://t.co/uuvldsiEKK
— Theodore — Six — Feet — Apart — Grunewald (@TedGrunewald) May 9, 2020

by artappraiser on Sat, 05/09/2020 - 12:07pm

Little Richard going to The Grammy Awards and reading the ENTIRE music industry for not crediting him for his musical and cultural contributions will forever be iconic.

RIP pic.twitter.com/g0YZHxO1y4
— Milik Rodman (@MilikKashad) May 9, 2020

by artappraiser on Sat, 05/09/2020 - 12:11pm

Little Richard: an ultra-sexual force of anti-nature https://t.co/2BugsIlSK4
— Guardian culture (@guardianculture) May 9, 2020

by artappraiser on Sat, 05/09/2020 - 12:35pm

Sir Tom Jones, with video memories:

To my dear Richard,⁣⁣
⁣You're a true original, you broke all the rules and you weren’t afraid to show it. A magnificent talent and an inspiration to so many of us. ⁣⁣
My heart goes out to your loved ones, RIP my friend. pic.twitter.com/yRJoSUDk2I
— Tom Jones (@RealSirTomJones) May 9, 2020

by artappraiser on Sat, 05/09/2020 - 12:38pm

Mick Jagger:

pic.twitter.com/uvyhO0uNtA
— Mick Jagger (@MickJagger) May 9, 2020

by artappraiser on Sat, 05/09/2020 - 12:43pm

I served soul food brunch to Little Richard every Sunday for a year while waitressing at Aunt Kizzy’s Back Porch in LA. I was a college student. He tipped me a crisp $100 bill each week on a $75 breakfast with friends. This was 30 years ago. Helped me so much. God rest his soul. https://t.co/L0vo1tPdBv
— Ava DuVernay (@ava) May 9, 2020

by artappraiser on Sat, 05/09/2020 - 12:51pm

New York Times' formal obit by Tim Weiner:

Little Richard did not invent rock ’n’ roll. But he raised the energy level several notches and created something not quite like any music that had been heard before — something new, thrilling and more than a little dangerous. https://t.co/XZDAwjt7mj
— New York Times Arts (@nytimesarts) May 9, 2020

by artappraiser on Sat, 05/09/2020 - 12:57pm

more reminiscences

Little Richard was a great talent and a big part of my childhood so it was an honor when he played at my inauguration in 1993. His music influenced countless musicians and we still feel it today. I will miss him and his unforgettable charisma.
— Bill Clinton (@BillClinton) May 9, 2020

Little Richard stopped playing, looked at me and said “Don’t be shy now. You wanna sit next to Little Richard while he plays Tutti Frutti?” I said “Yes sir. I do.” And I did. And it was mind boggling. Like swimming in a fountain of joy. Thank you, sir. Rest In Peace.
— Bradley Whitford (@BradleyWhitford) May 9, 2020

Little Richard officiating Tom Petty & Dana’s wedding ceremony pic.twitter.com/J2iPxQZDZt
— John Fugelsang (@JohnFugelsang) May 10, 2020

People throw the term LEGEND around loosely nowadays. If someone is Truly a LEGEND there should never be any question. R.I.P Little RIchard https://t.co/qLzCLxCwuR
— ICE T (@FINALLEVEL) May 9, 2020

On the passing of Little Richard... pic.twitter.com/iRwhuKBdtw
— Huey Lewis (@HueyLewisNews) May 9, 2020

Little Richard changed everything for me. When he came over the airwaves the world was never the same.
— Robbie Robertson (@r0bbier0berts0n) May 10, 2020

#RIP to a true music icon and pioneer — "The Innovator, The Originator, and The Architect of Rock 'n' roll." #LittleRichard's passion for music, powerful presence and visionary genius were truly unmatched. Rest in peace, old friend. #RIPLegend pic.twitter.com/2dU6IWPvaT
— Donny Osmond (@donnyosmond) May 9, 2020

“My roots are Little Richard and Mondrian.” - Brian Eno #RIP
— Brian Eno News (@dark_shark) May 9, 2020

Little Richard inducted Otis Redding into the Rock Hall in 1989. THIS is how he begins his speech. pic.twitter.com/sUC3XD4PLh
— Who Cares About the Rock Hall? (@rockhallpod) May 9, 2020

RIP Little Richard. The man who invented It. Elvis popularized it. Chuck Berry was the storyteller. Richard embodied the Spirit of RocknRoll. Maureen and I were so honored being the first marriage he conducted. Were lucky to know him. He lives forever in the Underground Garage.
— Stevie Van Zandt (@StevieVanZandt) May 9, 2020

by artappraiser on Sun, 05/10/2020 - 1:24am

more @ The Guardian I missed, including Dylan, Keith:

'He hit us like a bolt of lightning': stars pay tribute to Little Richard https://t.co/I0EAI5H6zF
— Guardian culture (@guardianculture) May 9, 2020

by artappraiser on Sun, 05/10/2020 - 1:50am

I almost skipped by Little Steven's UndergroundGarage ref a 2nd time.

And while this is about Little Richard, I'm always impressed by how much Tom Jones listens when he sings with people.

by PeraclesPlease on Sun, 05/10/2020 - 2:59am

Little Richard, Founding Father of Rock Who Broke Musical Barriers, Dead at 87

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