Little Richard was flamboyant. Fabulous! In the 80s, the interviewer asked him about Prince. He looked at the camera and said, "Prince, I was wearing purple before you were born!"
I knew you would like Little Richard! Try “Tutti Fruiti” next. I am not quite old enough to have seen him live, but my mom never missed an opportunity to see him on TV!
tutti Fruiti was covered by Mr. White Milk Toast Pat Boone for the white radio stations... it's sad that such good singers (both richerd and pat) had to deal with the reality of what was acceptable to the audience. Musicians were totally integrated - but their audiences were not.
@@jeancoughlin5490 Pat Boone was too naive to be a bigot. That's why he didn't understand. He just thought, like many did, that they had different audiences. That's why a lot of white radio stations refused to play Elvis when he first hit the air - he sounded too black. That's just the way things were and it took decades (is still taking I guess) for the vast majority of people to be truly color-blind. Its easy to be depressed about this, but frankly I'm very happy to be alive to see the changes. I was still in high school when it was first desegregated - we're not there yet but we've come so, so far.
Little Richard was one of the creators of Rock and Roll. He was super popular with teens in late 50s early 60s. All the great R&R groups stand on his shoulders.
Little Richard showed everyone how to rock out with tremendous energy. Then Chuck Berry came along and showed everyone how to play rock guitar. These two men influenced rock bands for decades. They are the real founding fathers of rock and roll.
And Buddy Holly created a template of a self-contained quartet (lead guitar, rhythm guitar, bass, drums) that wrote hits and covered eclectic prior songs and recorded songs by other writers, and experimented and innovated in the studio, and toured globally, and grew musically, and performed on television and before black audiences, etc.
I used this song to explain to my daughter when she was about fourteen why Rock n Roll became so popular. I asked her to imagine that she is back in the fifties, then I played her a Perry Como song and a few others like it and then I played Long Tall Sally. She understood right away the lesson I was giving her. My favorite Little Richard song is Rip It Up. Of course Tutti Fruitti is the one most people know, Lucille is another great Little Richard song.
Little Richard was Richard Penniman, and bless him, he passed last May. If you like wild piano men who shaped rock and roll, you'll love Jerry Lee Lewis. Great Balls of Fire is a classic.
Yes, Little Richard was well known for his energy. As another poster said, he is a true father of rock and roll. I also second the motion on Great Balls of Fire by Jerry Lee Lewis (not to be confused with Jerry Lewis, who was Dean Martin's sidekick).
Little Richard was the self proclaimed architect of Rock and Roll because, actually, he was. The cornerstones of early rock were of course Elvis, Chuck Berry, Jerry Lee Lewis and Indeed Little Richard. Rock would have been quite different and maybe non existent without them. There were others, but these were the most defiant of what had gone on before. You had to be there to understand the impact they had. But isn't it great that thru youtube they live on all these years later and you get to enjoy them too!!
Think you should have included Buddy Holly in that. The most influential artist of the 50s. He was the first to bring strings into Rock n Roll and changed the course of Rock n Roll, and music in general, forever.
I was going to say the same thing JT Ravers said. You have got to include Buddy Holly. I would rank him higher than Jerry Lee. For me its Chuck Berry, Little Richard and Buddy Holly the top three of beginning R-nR.
You forgot Bo Diddley, he and Chuck Berry were combining Blues and Country. Little Richard turned up and added some extra funk. The Beatles toured with him as a support band in '62, I think, At Paul's request, he taught them the scream.
Little Richard was the _freaky_ edge of roots rock; Paul McCartney wanted to be just like Little Richard and you can hear the influence. Try "Tootie Frootie" next.....please! You'll understand the Beatles & Stones better for it!
Little Richard was in a class all by himself! Unmatched in his energy as a performer. "Flamboyant" is definitely the best adjective to use for him. Y'all definitely need to check out "Good Golly Miss Molly", "Tutti Fruitti", "Lucille", "The Girl Can't Help It", "Keep a Knockin'", "Rip It Up", "Ready Teddy", "Slippin' & Slidin'"& "Heebie Jeebies"...just to name a few. You really can't go wrong with any of his songs. Just make sure to take your vitamins & hydrate before you watch him live - Little Richard burns it up!
I always cracked up inside when my Dad, who really liked LRs music, and later when he saw him on TV, he said he must have been raised by his mother, which was as close as he could come to admitting he liked something by a gay man. (It was obvious to a lot of us back then, but not everybody.)
The three guys sitting at the table, one guy with the spit curl on his forehead, was Bill Haley and the Comets. Yes, Little Richard brought that energy constantly. L.R., was one of the performers Jerry Lee Lewis based his style on. Notice all in the audience were White and young White's loved the music, no matter the race of the artists. However, most White radio stations, refused to play music by Black artist back in those days, so White artists would cover these songs. Elvis Presley had a hit with this, because of it.
This was the start of the Boomer generation desegregating their life with music. I remember my Mom really upset because I had this 45. It was the beginning of the end of segregation on so many levels
They really tried to 'whitewash' Little Richard's music with Pat Boone (imagine) recording LR's Tutti Fruiti. But that just sent us to the music store, looking for the original ... Little Richard.
Right! So "Little Darlin' by the Diamonds got more airplay than the Gladiolas' version, and most of us heard "Louie, Louie" by the Kingsmen more than the version by Richard Berry & the Pharaohs. And, we had what was later called the "immediate cover," such as Georgia Gibbs cover of Lavern Baker's "Tweedlee Dee."
He deeply influenced Prince’s fashion sense! The Beatles worshipped him and he gave them lots of tips. They sing Long Tall Sally as well complete with all the “ Woooooos”!
Lemmy from Motorhead also spoke VERY highly of Little Richard , very often. He was usually the first person mentioned when an interviewer sked him about who he liked or his influences.
Little Richard brought the house down every single time! Every performance exuded flamboyance and energy. My grandma said each time she saw him, it was joyous, contagious, raw energy.
I was 17 then but…….in high school I went, reluctantly, to see Little Richard at the Fillmore in San Francisco. Never, EVER, had I had so much fun at a show! This was 1969 I think. The place was packed, people sitting or laying on the floor. THEN EVERYONE WAS UP AND LOVING EVERY MINUTE! ILL NEVER FORGET IT!
Little Richard is a legendary badass, and the true father of rock n' roll - great song choice you guys. As always, you made my day! Edit: As pointed out by a few folks, Little Richard is definitely not the only founder of rock 'n roll, although so many of his contemporaries were inspired by him.
True, not the only one, but he started in show business in '47 with traveling minstrel/medicine shows, then vaudeville, sometimes in flamboyant drag, then various rhythm and blues bands for the years up until his first solo in '55 with Tutti Frutti, which is what made him famous. But he had been developing his unique entertainment style for years before most of the other "founders" who entered the rock & roll genre when it took off in the mid 50's.
Many people owe a lot to Little Richard. A interesting note: he quit recording for while and attending a Bible College in Huntsville Alabama. He is buried in the schools Graveyard. The record companies really treated him badly. They paid him very little for his songs. He resented Elvis at first. But he later said the bigger Elvis got more knew about Little Richard. Little Richard was a consummate performer.
@@andrewpayne4466 Elvis was white and got the acclaim. Little Richard was black and at that time was allowed to entertain in a hotel but not stay there for the night or enter through the front door. As Elvis grew more famous globally the young (because their elders thought Rock and Roll was the devil's music!) wanted to hear other singers and so many more discovered Little Richard and his fame grew too.
YES, Little Richard ALWAYS brings this energy. Pick anything of his and you'll be moving! Just wait until you hear, TUTTI FRUTTI, RIP IT UP, LUCILE, and GOOD GOLLY MISS MOLLY!
A lot of people don't realize he is the one who inspired ELVIS,BEATLES .he was retired for a while and because of them he was inspired to come back.thanks Little Richard for the great songs 😂❤.
Gotta watch some of his tv interviews too. The man was HILARIOUS! He had as huge a personality just as wild and fun as his music. He was also a man of deep faith in God. He was a walking paradox,a good man, with a good soul, wild, crazy, massively entertaining, and like all world changing artists, a man who suffered with great pain. Little Richard was a blessing to the world while he was here with us and his legacy will continue as long as couples like you discover and share him! Great reaction. Love watching you two discover artists and music you haven't heard before and enjoying the adventure!
He turned to God after his glory days of sex, drugs and rock n' roll were over ... sure, he repented, but he had a whole lot of fun first ... a bit like St. Augustine, who said: "Give me repentance Lord, but not yet".
He was the first rocker to wear women's makeup. He said when the white men saw him wearing eyeliner, they knew he wouldn't be after their women and they left him alone. That became a trend in the 1980s.
Little Richard's influence is INCALCULABLE. Style ~ Sound ~ Showmanship. EVERYONE: Jimi Hendrix to James Brown to Mick Jagger to Elton John and everyone in between took cues from "Little Richard" Penniman. LEGEND
Bo Diddley, Chuck Berry and Little Richard were huge influences on the early Beatles and Rolling Stones. They took your American rock’n’roll and repackaged it, taking it back to the USA in a new form! Would love to see you react to Bo Diddley and then perhaps one US group I love - George Thorogood and the Destroyers; Bad to the Bone is a great track used in the movie of Stephen King’s “Christine”.
Prince admitted that Little Richard was a huge influence on him. Many thought the commercial character you're talking about was Prince. Another artist that loved to put on a show with the piano is Jerry Lee Lewis.
Thank you! Finally!! The real King of Rock ‘n Roll! A flamboyant gay black man in the 1950s literally rocking the entire world. Unheard of. He literally taught the world how to rock. So talented. Check out his duet medley with Tom Jone on his tv show. Fantastic!
Little Richard wasn't gay! He was questionably bi sexual... Totally against it later in life due to his spirituality. Elvis is still the KING though! 👑 Little is the ORIGINATOR!
little richard wasn’t gay. he wire make up so he could perform to an audience of predominantly white genders. he said himself they wouldn’t let him perform as a straight black man. the white ppl were scared he wanted the white girls.
Little Richard (dynamite,) another of the original instigators of Rock n roll crazy performer who blows you away, just mental music. So great to see yous discovering this music, brilliant.
One of the founding fathers of Rock & Roll, and he always brought the fire. Try "Good golly miss Molly" and "Tutti Frutti", a couple more all time classics!
Huge Beatles fan here, but even the Beatles were starstruck when they met Little Richard. Paul McCartney described him as larger than life, and John's early belts and screams were obviously inspired by Little Richard.
I know this has been said before, but seeing young people react to music they've never heard before but we've been hearing our whole lives, is just so fun! I LOVE your reaction Amber! I think the young people of that day would have reacted the same way the first time they heard this.
Little Richard Penniman...now there's a showman. And yes, this is a "normal" performance for him--simply always over the top. Other great Little Richard tunes include Tutti Frutti, Lucille, and Good Golly Miss Molly should be a the top of your list for him.
Little Richard was a huge, huge, huge, influence on The Beatles, especially Paul McCartney. As a 14 year old boy, Paul would sing Long Tall Sally and Lucille at the top of his lungs, and his dad was impressed how much Paul sounded like him. Little Richard was truly one of a kind. May God Bless him up in heaven.
The Beatles opened for Little Richard in the early 60's in Germany I believe. Little Richard taught Paul McCartney to whoo in falsetto. The Beatles recorded Long Tall Sally on their first album
Just wanted to add that Bowie also cited him as an early influence. Bowie, of course, went in a lot of different directions, but I think it's safe to say Little Richard influenced an entire generation. The guy rocked hard, after all.
In the 70's, 80's and 90's he was still full of energy! He died during COVID shutdown and so his death did not go as no0ticed as it should have. There needs to be a tribute to him.
Long Tall Sally is my fave, but here’s some more of his greats: Lucille Miss Ann Directly From My Heart To You Good Golly Miss Molly I Got It…these are just off the top of my head. I’m 55 and pretty much always knew who Little Richard was, but I dove into his music with both feet after watching Predator, when Bill Duke was singing Long Tall Sally while stalking the predator in the jungle. 😂 Loved him ever since.
Jimi Hendrix played guitar for Little Richard, he made his big toe stand straight up in his boot! Met him back in the 60's when I was a kid, sat in his lap, he was funny, warm, a really nice man, I'll never forget him, the true king of rock and roll!
@@theresagallagher9161 thanks, wish you could have met him, he was such a funny man, I have pictures somewhere of him performing, and some of me sitting on his lap, I need to dig them out, haven't thought about in years until I caught Rob's video, have a great day!
He did change though. He got super religious & stopped making this music for a bit. Then started back up when he realized British rock bands doing his songs were making $$…. when he could do it better.
Paul McCartney learned how to sing rock & roll by belting along with his Little Richard records. Brian Johnson had to sing a Little Richard song at his audition to replace the late, great Bon Scott in AC/DC. Before he died, Bon told the band that a any rock singer that can't pull off a Little Richard song "ain't worth a damn."
Yes Little Richard was always a flamboyant rocker! His brother of another mother Jerry Lee Lewis was just like him. Both guys did the crazy showboating on the piano. It was the early Rock n Roll thing to do with the piano. You need to React to them both back to back!
I was just a twinkle in my daddy’s eye… a year before I was born. But yes, Little Richard was like this in everything I’ve seen…. This is real Rock & Roll.
I love that without even seeing a lot of Little Richard that you called him flamboyant. He was probably the most flamboyant artist to come out of the 50s!
This song's lyrics describe events surrounding a transvestite/drag queen ball. None of us kids back in the day had any concept of such a thing . . we just grooved on the great music and Little Richard's dynamic vocal performance. Listen to those lyrics with a modern perspective and enjoy -- then imagine what it was saying to those back in 1956 who DID get it! Just wow!
I see nothing in the lyrics that suggests a transvestite ball to me, except maybe that Sally is long, tall and apparently has a bald head, which doesn't necessarily mean anything. All I hear is uncle John is trying to get down with Sally and trying not to get caught by aunt Mary.
@Geo Dio Censors for airplay and records were indeed tough. But black performers made their chops on the circuit , playing clubs , playing live. There were a LOT of songs in the 50s , and not just the 50s , but back in the 30s and 40s blues , that were very thinly veiled filth. And when they were played live , to audiences that knew what to expect , not teenyboppers , they didn't bother to censor their material. Also , it would be saying Uncle John was on the down low. Just like Little Richard himself was. It isn't a huge stretch.
Little Richard is a giant of early rock & roll, and many artists have covered his songs. One of the most frenetic covers is the eight-minute live rendition of “Lucille” by Deep Purple on their album Made in Japan (Deluxe Edition). It’s worth a listen.
Well, where did you think PRINCE got his swag from? Little Richard used to say "I did that first" to everything anyone would comment on regarding music. Michael Jackson with the WHOO HOO. "I did that first". Playing the piano backwards. "I did that first". Look at the people viewing the performance. Little Richard introduced rock & roll to the masses before it was mainstream. A True pioneer.
Little Richard is in a catagory of his own!!!!! He was one of the founders or Rock and Roll and deserves every accolade given him!!!!¡ He is a class act!!!!!!
Yes he was always a flamboyant entertainer He was right at the beginning of Rock n Roll This clip is from a movie Bill Haley is sitting at the table Beatles covered this song too
Little Richard had been payin' his dues in the south for several years (since the late 1940's??) before this 1956 performance. He perfected his sound and all his antics. He was pure energy and joy in his performances!
This performance was from the movie “The Girl Can’t Help It”. And yes he was all energy! I stood right next to the piano during one of his shows in 1966!
I was a teen in the 80s, so this was my parents’ teen years’ music. Mama swore Little Richard had to have worn out his clothes from the inside out, he was so “busy” on stage, jumping and moving so much. 🤣 And, yes. Flamboyant was a great word to use to describe him. High energy, full of sass and attitude … He left MOST of it on stage, but not all of it. He put on a show WHEREVER he went. Find some of his interviews from different decades. The man never slowed down. ❤️ He also sang “The Girl Can’t Help It”. Great song. Also high energy.
In musical terms, Little Richard was more influential than Elvis, as was Buddy Holly. Elvis inspired people to sing, Chuck Berry inspired people to pick up a guitar, Jerry Lee -- a piano, but in regards to sound and style it was Little Richard. He left the business at the height of his career to become a preacher for God, although he did later go back into the business.
Great song! If you want more crazy falsetto, you need to listen to Chris Isaak- Wicked Game and also Finr Young Canibals- She Drives me Crazy. Both iconic songs!
He was so good he would sell out shows in the Jim Crowe south. A bisexual flamboyant black man playing to all whits crowds many times just shows how music is the greatest power to bring people together.
He was always like this. He taught Paul McCartney to scream. He had Jimi Hendrix and James Brown in his band at different times. “Lucille”, “Good Golly Miss Molly”, “Rip It Up”, “Slippin’ and Slidin’”
"The Architect of Rock & Roll", on the Mount Rushmore of Modern Music. Fats Domino brought the class, Chuck Berry supplied the poetry, Little Richard gave us the glitz, Jerry Lee Lewis brought the wildness. Many more beyond the four: Elvis brought the sex, Gene Vincent brought the danger, Carl Perkins represented the Rockabilly, Roy Orbison brought the operatic artistry. Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and Eddie Cochran died way too young. And on and on...
More Little Richard. He never disappoints. The Beatles do a great version of Long Tall Sally on one of their early albums. Paul McCartney was hugely inspired by Little Richard.
You have to try understand the time this came out, Rock and Roll was the " Devil's music !" . You had to have guts galore to preform like this. Groundbreaking is just a start, this was a music style never heard before. Tutti Fruity next, please !!
The electric guitar was invented in the 30s, and Blues went electric in Chicago in the 40s. But I think it took a while before the electric guitar could be really loud, and that's why much of early rock'n'roll leant so heavily on the saxophone and the piano.
Without Little Richard, there is no rock and roll. There's been no one else like him, before or since. Thanks to the hosts for their pure and joyous reactions.
Little Richard was flamboyant. Fabulous! In the 80s, the interviewer asked him about Prince. He looked at the camera and said, "Prince, I was wearing purple before you were born!"
Get out of my head. I was gonna say Little Richard was the first Prince.
Another Richard Penniman rocker: Good Golly Miss Molly.
I knew you would like Little Richard! Try “Tutti Fruiti” next. I am not quite old enough to have seen him live, but my mom never missed an opportunity to see him on TV!
tutti Fruiti was covered by Mr. White Milk Toast Pat Boone for the white radio stations... it's sad that such good singers (both richerd and pat) had to deal with the reality of what was acceptable to the audience. Musicians were totally integrated - but their audiences were not.
Pay Boone was no victim. He profited from bigotry. He could never understand Richard's bitterness over the matter.
@@jeancoughlin5490 Pat Boone was too naive to be a bigot. That's why he didn't understand. He just thought, like many did, that they had different audiences. That's why a lot of white radio stations refused to play Elvis when he first hit the air - he sounded too black. That's just the way things were and it took decades (is still taking I guess) for the vast majority of people to be truly color-blind. Its easy to be depressed about this, but frankly I'm very happy to be alive to see the changes. I was still in high school when it was first desegregated - we're not there yet but we've come so, so far.
@@KenOtwell So true.
Oh, yeah "Tutti Fruiti" is one of my faves! And also "Keep A Knockin."
😁
He was the king of rock....Elvis was the king of popular music...but Richard was something else !!!
Move over Prince this guy did it long before him
Little Richard was one of the creators of Rock and Roll. He was super popular with teens in late 50s early 60s. All the great R&R groups stand on his shoulders.
Little Richard showed everyone how to rock out with tremendous energy. Then Chuck Berry came along and showed everyone how to play rock guitar. These two men influenced rock bands for decades. They are the real founding fathers of rock and roll.
True. True.
And Buddy Holly created a template of a self-contained quartet (lead guitar, rhythm guitar, bass, drums) that wrote hits and covered eclectic prior songs and recorded songs by other writers, and experimented and innovated in the studio, and toured globally, and grew musically, and performed on television and before black audiences, etc.
Don't forget Sister Rosetta Tharpe, she would be perfect for Female Friday.
Chuck Berry first hits either predated or were at the same time as Little Richard.
Little Richard had the voice of Rock N roll. Chuck Berry had the stage presence of Rock N Roll. Both had energy in different ways for Rock N Roll.
I used this song to explain to my daughter when she was about fourteen why Rock n Roll became so popular. I asked her to imagine that she is back in the fifties, then I played her a Perry Como song and a few others like it and then I played Long Tall Sally. She understood right away the lesson I was giving her. My favorite Little Richard song is Rip It Up. Of course Tutti Fruitti is the one most people know, Lucille is another great Little Richard song.
Great Dad!! Well done James.
I’m from back in the day! But confused on your Perry Como comparison.
I get your point about the evolution from crooner to Rock, but I still love a good Perry Como song. :)
Pat Boone redid Tutti-frutti for the people who didn’t want to acknowledge Little Richard. You have to hear the difference. I love Lucille!
I have ti say I love Perry Como, and others like him, too. They all gave is different gifts… BUT, I get your point about the love of Rock and Roll. :)
Little Richard was Richard Penniman, and bless him, he passed last May. If you like wild piano men who shaped rock and roll, you'll love Jerry Lee Lewis. Great Balls of Fire is a classic.
YES, YES, YES "GREAT BALLS OF FIRE"...PLEASE!!!
Yes, Little Richard was well known for his energy. As another poster said, he is a true father of rock and roll. I also second the motion on Great Balls of Fire by Jerry Lee Lewis (not to be confused with Jerry Lewis, who was Dean Martin's sidekick).
Fats Domino I'm Walking and Blueberry Hill were also covered by Boone but everyone who heard the original never settled for the impostor.
They recently reacted to Whole Lotta Shakin Going On.
Little Richard was one of the bravest men I've ever had the privilege to meet. His advice really helped me battle depression.
❤
You were truly priviledged !
Amber nailed it!! Every song was a show. The energy eas intense!!!!!
Little Richard was the self proclaimed architect of Rock and Roll because, actually, he was. The cornerstones of early rock were of course Elvis, Chuck Berry, Jerry Lee Lewis and Indeed Little Richard. Rock would have been quite different and maybe non existent without them. There were others, but these were the most defiant of what had gone on before. You had to be there to understand the impact they had. But isn't it great that thru youtube they live on all these years later and you get to enjoy them too!!
Think you should have included Buddy Holly in that. The most influential artist of the 50s. He was the first to bring strings into Rock n Roll and changed the course of Rock n Roll, and music in general, forever.
Try going back to Sister Rosetta Tharp to see who really started Rock.
I was going to say the same thing JT Ravers said. You have got to include Buddy Holly. I would rank him higher than Jerry Lee. For me its Chuck Berry, Little Richard and Buddy Holly the top three of beginning R-nR.
He ain't lyin'
You forgot Bo Diddley, he and Chuck Berry were combining Blues and Country. Little Richard turned up and added some extra funk. The Beatles toured with him as a support band in '62, I think, At Paul's request, he taught them the scream.
Little Richard was the _freaky_ edge of roots rock; Paul McCartney wanted to be just like Little Richard and you can hear the influence. Try "Tootie Frootie" next.....please! You'll understand the Beatles & Stones better for it!
Totally agree. Tootie Frootie is a must!
You are so right on target with your comment!
Perhaps you mean Tutti Frutti…? Also record by Elvis ✌️
@@ristovirtanen6396 Yeah. Tutti Frutti it is.
Little Richard was in a class all by himself! Unmatched in his energy as a performer. "Flamboyant" is definitely the best adjective to use for him. Y'all definitely need to check out "Good Golly Miss Molly", "Tutti Fruitti", "Lucille", "The Girl Can't Help It", "Keep a Knockin'", "Rip It Up", "Ready Teddy", "Slippin' & Slidin'"& "Heebie Jeebies"...just to name a few. You really can't go wrong with any of his songs. Just make sure to take your vitamins & hydrate before you watch him live - Little Richard burns it up!
Bring me some Lovin- Rock&Roll by Little Richard
Inspired the beatles
I was born in 1953 so I have heard a lot of this kind of music! 😊
I always cracked up inside when my Dad, who really liked LRs music, and later when he saw him on TV, he said he must have been raised by his mother, which was as close as he could come to admitting he liked something by a gay man. (It was obvious to a lot of us back then, but not everybody.)
Gosh I was born two decades after these songs came out and yet I know them all by heart - he had such an impact on music, it’s undeniable.
No one else like Little Richard, EVER!!
YES! He ALWAYS brought the energy!!!! The guy was FIRE!!!
He was a Sagittarian, a Fire Sign in astrology. 🌸🌸
The three guys sitting at the table, one guy with the spit curl on his forehead, was Bill Haley and the Comets. Yes, Little Richard brought that energy constantly. L.R., was one of the performers Jerry Lee Lewis based his style on. Notice all in the audience were White and young White's loved the music, no matter the race of the artists. However, most White radio stations, refused to play music by Black artist back in those days, so White artists would cover these songs. Elvis Presley had a hit with this, because of it.
Wow! I didn't know that. Now I see it.
This was the start of the Boomer generation desegregating their life with music. I remember my Mom really upset because I had this 45. It was the beginning of the end of segregation on so many levels
They really tried to 'whitewash' Little Richard's music with Pat Boone (imagine) recording LR's Tutti Fruiti. But that just sent us to the music store, looking for the original ... Little Richard.
True story!!
Right! So "Little Darlin' by the Diamonds got more airplay than the Gladiolas' version, and most of us heard "Louie, Louie" by the Kingsmen more than the version by Richard Berry & the Pharaohs. And, we had what was later called the "immediate cover," such as Georgia Gibbs cover of Lavern Baker's "Tweedlee Dee."
He deeply influenced Prince’s fashion sense!
The Beatles worshipped him and he gave them lots of tips. They sing Long Tall Sally as well complete with all the “ Woooooos”!
And his version of “Kansas City” , they did worship him!!!
Lemmy from Motorhead also spoke VERY highly of Little Richard , very often. He was usually the first person mentioned when an interviewer sked him about who he liked or his influences.
McCartney got the wooo part on the early Beatle songs from Little Richard
influenced freddie greatly too
Absolutely he always performed at this level of energy. "Lucille" "Tutti Frutti" "Good Golly Miss Molly"
Little Richard brought the house down every single time! Every performance exuded flamboyance and energy. My grandma said each time she saw him, it was joyous, contagious, raw energy.
I was 17 then but…….in high school I went, reluctantly, to see Little Richard at the Fillmore in San Francisco. Never, EVER, had I had so much fun at a show! This was 1969 I think. The place was packed, people sitting or laying on the floor. THEN EVERYONE WAS UP AND LOVING EVERY MINUTE! ILL NEVER FORGET IT!
Four years old. huh
@@jessicahannah2522 Why did I write THAT? I’m losing it!
Little Richard is a legendary badass, and the true father of rock n' roll - great song choice you guys. As always, you made my day!
Edit: As pointed out by a few folks, Little Richard is definitely not the only founder of rock 'n roll, although so many of his contemporaries were inspired by him.
There is no "One" but he was part of the foundation for sure.
David, he was one of, but not 'the.'
The dr. Pepper guy is justin warini he was on american idol . 😍😍
True, not the only one, but he started in show business in '47 with traveling minstrel/medicine shows, then vaudeville, sometimes in flamboyant drag, then various rhythm and blues bands for the years up until his first solo in '55 with Tutti Frutti, which is what made him famous. But he had been developing his unique entertainment style for years before most of the other "founders" who entered the rock & roll genre when it took off in the mid 50's.
Including Elvis and that is why Elvis had such a big interest in gospel music as did Little Richard.
Many people owe a lot to Little Richard.
A interesting note: he quit recording for while and attending a Bible College in Huntsville Alabama. He is buried in the schools Graveyard. The record companies really treated him badly. They paid him very little for his songs. He resented Elvis at first. But he later said the bigger Elvis got more knew about Little Richard.
Little Richard was a consummate performer.
"Predator" Owes a lot to Little Richard.
Yes! I thought about that movie when I heard this song! Great movie!
Can you explain better the words' He resented Elvis at first. But he later said the bigger Elvis got more knew about Little Richard. ' I don't get it.
@@andrewpayne4466 Elvis was white and got the acclaim. Little Richard was black and at that time was allowed to entertain in a hotel but not stay there for the night or enter through the front door. As Elvis grew more famous globally the young (because their elders thought Rock and Roll was the devil's music!) wanted to hear other singers and so many more discovered Little Richard and his fame grew too.
YES, Little Richard ALWAYS brings this energy. Pick anything of his and you'll be moving! Just wait until you hear, TUTTI FRUTTI, RIP IT UP, LUCILE, and GOOD GOLLY MISS MOLLY!
Check out his 60s soul stormer I dont wanna discuss it
A lot of people don't realize he is the one who inspired ELVIS,BEATLES .he was retired for a while and because of them he was inspired to come back.thanks Little Richard for the great songs 😂❤.
Little Richard's musical DNA is in EVERY rock/pop/soul/hiphop/ etc. artist reaction.
Little Richard is always fire. Absolutely true one of the founder's much history in this man
And most of the early classic rock was based on 12 bar blues harmony progression formula like this one.🤔👌
Gotta watch some of his tv interviews too. The man was HILARIOUS! He had as huge a personality just as wild and fun as his music. He was also a man of deep faith in God. He was a walking paradox,a good man, with a good soul, wild, crazy, massively entertaining, and like all world changing artists, a man who suffered with great pain. Little Richard was a blessing to the world while he was here with us and his legacy will continue as long as couples like you discover and share him! Great reaction. Love watching you two discover artists and music you haven't heard before and enjoying the adventure!
He turned to God after his glory days of sex, drugs and rock n' roll were over ... sure, he repented, but he had a whole lot of fun first ... a bit like St. Augustine, who said: "Give me repentance Lord, but not yet".
Yes, Amber hit it on the head: Little Richard was a flamboyant performer-always.
He was the first rocker to wear women's makeup. He said when the white men saw him wearing eyeliner, they knew he wouldn't be after their women and they left him alone. That became a trend in the 1980s.
I LOL'd when she said that. Oh Amber.... you have no idea!
The Beatles were his backup band in England! he told a story of teaching them how to scream like "Little Aunt Jemimas!
This is one of the pioneers if not the pioneer of rock and roll
Little Richard's influence is INCALCULABLE. Style ~ Sound ~ Showmanship. EVERYONE: Jimi Hendrix to James Brown to Mick Jagger to Elton John and everyone in between took cues from "Little Richard" Penniman. LEGEND
Another great listen to Bo Didley and Fats Domino.
The Bo Diddley beat is a foundational rhythm for rock and roll! I love hearing it in songs.
Shush
Seven Hunnid is an underrated TH-camr, his videos are good i watch him & this channel most of the time..
Bo Diddley, Chuck Berry and Little Richard were huge influences on the early Beatles and Rolling Stones. They took your American rock’n’roll and repackaged it, taking it back to the USA in a new form!
Would love to see you react to Bo Diddley and then perhaps one US group I love - George Thorogood and the Destroyers; Bad to the Bone is a great track used in the movie of Stephen King’s “Christine”.
And yes - I was listening in the 50s and 60s when stars like Little Richard and Jerry Lee Lewis toured the UK!
Prince admitted that Little Richard was a huge influence on him. Many thought the commercial character you're talking about was Prince.
Another artist that loved to put on a show with the piano is Jerry Lee Lewis.
I had the opportunity to see Little Richard live, and this man OWNED the theater! One of the greatest showman, and a true rock and roll pioneer!❤️
Little Richard was a musical genius. One of the greatest of all time.
💯
Thank you! Finally!! The real King of Rock ‘n Roll! A flamboyant gay black man in the 1950s literally rocking the entire world. Unheard of. He literally taught the world how to rock. So talented. Check out his duet medley with Tom Jone on his tv show. Fantastic!
Little Richard wasn't gay! He was questionably bi sexual... Totally against it later in life due to his spirituality. Elvis is still the KING though! 👑 Little is the ORIGINATOR!
Little Richard was gay?
@@richieluckenbill1590 he was gay
@Jimi Purple He wasn't gay. He still liked woman.
little richard wasn’t gay. he wire make up so he could perform to an audience of predominantly white genders. he said himself they wouldn’t let him perform as a straight black man. the white ppl were scared he wanted the white girls.
Little Richard is a LEGEND!! Everything he did was fantastic!! You can't go wrong with Little Richard.
He brought this energy even when he was like 70 years old. It is just who he is.
Little Richard (dynamite,) another of the original instigators of Rock n roll crazy performer who blows you away, just mental music. So great to see yous discovering this music, brilliant.
Little Richard was a GOAT of his time 😊😊😊
One of the founding fathers of Rock & Roll, and he always brought the fire. Try "Good golly miss Molly" and "Tutti Frutti", a couple more all time classics!
He brought that much energy to everything! You gotta see Jerry Lee Lewis do Great Balls of Fire! A piano player you won’t believe!
Had the pleasure of meeting The Killer in Dublin about twenty odd years ago. An absolute gentleman.
Huge Beatles fan here, but even the Beatles were starstruck when they met Little Richard. Paul McCartney described him as larger than life, and John's early belts and screams were obviously inspired by Little Richard.
Huge influence on The Beatles.
He was prince before prince
Check out Lennon's screaming on The Beatles's Bad Boy, perhaps my fav song by them.
Little Richard always brought the fire. He’s one of creators of Rock and Roll
I know this has been said before, but seeing young people react to music they've never heard before but we've been hearing our whole lives, is just so fun! I LOVE your reaction Amber! I think the young people of that day would have reacted the same way the first time they heard this.
Little Richard Penniman...now there's a showman. And yes, this is a "normal" performance for him--simply always over the top. Other great Little Richard tunes include Tutti Frutti, Lucille, and Good Golly Miss Molly should be a the top of your list for him.
Little Richard was a huge, huge, huge, influence on The Beatles, especially Paul McCartney. As a 14 year old boy, Paul would sing Long Tall Sally and Lucille at the top of his
lungs, and his dad was impressed how much Paul sounded like him. Little Richard was truly one of a kind. May God Bless him up in heaven.
Oh yes, if you play the Beatles doing "I'm Down" Paul's vocal you can hear little Richard's influence.
And Paul with the Beatles covered Long Tall Sally pretty faithfully too.
The Beatles opened for Little Richard in the early 60's in Germany I believe. Little Richard taught Paul McCartney to whoo in falsetto. The Beatles recorded Long Tall Sally on their first album
Just wanted to add that Bowie also cited him as an early influence. Bowie, of course, went in a lot of different directions, but I think it's safe to say Little Richard influenced an entire generation. The guy rocked hard, after all.
@@barblessable They should definitely do I'm Down.
In the 70's, 80's and 90's he was still full of energy! He died during COVID shutdown and so his death did not go as no0ticed as it should have. There needs to be a tribute to him.
Well said. He is LEGEND
Bill Haley sitting tapping in time to Little Richard what a show, yeeaaaaaaaaaah
I remember they played this song in the original Predator movie with Arnold Schwarzenegger....great song !
He was always high energy. He was a major influence on everyone who came after him including The Beatles
You can hear his influence in the Beatles in the "oooo"!
@@lynnerapping7725 And Paul's screaming vocals.
The Beatles did a pretty good version of Long Tall Sally, too.
Early rock and roll. One of the OG's
For more, try Good Golly Miss Molly or Whole Lotta Shakin' Going On.
Long Tall Sally is my fave, but here’s some more of his greats:
Lucille
Miss Ann
Directly From My Heart To You
Good Golly Miss Molly
I Got It…these are just off the top of my head. I’m 55 and pretty much always knew who Little Richard was, but I dove into his music with both feet after watching Predator, when Bill Duke was singing Long Tall Sally while stalking the predator in the jungle. 😂 Loved him ever since.
He was flamboyant "I'm so beautiful "
He was like this all the time, and a long career. and he just recently passed.
Jimi Hendrix played guitar for Little Richard, he made his big toe stand straight up in his boot! Met him back in the 60's when I was a kid, sat in his lap, he was funny, warm, a really nice man, I'll never forget him, the true king of rock and roll!
Great story. What a beautiful memory to have in your life! 🤗👍
@@theresagallagher9161 thanks, wish you could have met him, he was such a funny man, I have pictures somewhere of him performing, and some of me sitting on his lap, I need to dig them out, haven't thought about in years until I caught Rob's video, have a great day!
@@mikeschroeder8594 your welcome Mike S. Keep on rockin' 💫💥
@@theresagallagher9161 will do, have a great day!😁
How old were you?🤣🤣🤣
Little Richard is the boss..The Beatles did a stonking version in the key of G with Paul McCartney doing his thing.
The Beatles actually toured with Little Richard in England early in their career and you can hear the influence he had on their vocal style.
@@mookie7688 Paul said he learned those high-pitched Ooooo from Richard.
Little Richard never changed his whole life. This is who he was all the time. I loved him!!
"Shut up!" Ha!
He did change though. He got super religious & stopped making this music for a bit. Then started back up when he realized British rock bands doing his songs were making $$…. when he could do it better.
Paul McCartney learned how to sing rock & roll by belting along with his Little Richard records.
Brian Johnson had to sing a Little Richard song at his audition to replace the late, great Bon Scott in AC/DC. Before he died, Bon told the band that a any rock singer that can't pull off a Little Richard song "ain't worth a damn."
He's the one who started rock and roll in my opinion
Yes Little Richard was always a flamboyant rocker! His brother of another mother Jerry Lee Lewis was just like him. Both guys did the crazy showboating on the piano. It was the early Rock n Roll thing to do with the piano. You need to React to them both back to back!
Little Richard is the epitomy of flamboyant! Amber you hit it on the head! and yes he always brought that level of energy to his performances!
I was just a twinkle in my daddy’s eye… a year before I was born. But yes, Little Richard was like this in everything I’ve seen…. This is real Rock & Roll.
The Beatles idolized Litte Richard, so did the stones and everyone else.
Yes he brought it, and he taught it to everyone after him!!!
He ALWAYS was like that!!! ♥️😀♥️
His character was also hilarious in the movie “Down And Out In Beverly Hills”!
YES- He was SOMETHING ELSE. RIP Little Richard🙏
When he showed up telling of the cops! 🤣😁😄😅
Richard Penniman started in gospel, co-invented rock and roll, went back to gospel and back to rock again. There was nobody like him
I love that without even seeing a lot of Little Richard that you called him flamboyant. He was probably the most flamboyant artist to come out of the 50s!
He was a forerunner to Hard Rock and Metal with that energy.
The father of rock n roll ever
1956!
This song's lyrics describe events surrounding a transvestite/drag queen ball. None of us kids back in the day had any concept of such a thing . . we just grooved on the great music and Little Richard's dynamic vocal performance. Listen to those lyrics with a modern perspective and enjoy -- then imagine what it was saying to those back in 1956 who DID get it! Just wow!
I highly doubt that is what the song is about.
Might be true. The original lyrics of ”Tutti Frutti” that Specialty nixed talked about ”good booty”.
I see nothing in the lyrics that suggests a transvestite ball to me, except maybe that Sally is long, tall and apparently has a bald head, which doesn't necessarily mean anything. All I hear is uncle John is trying to get down with Sally and trying not to get caught by aunt Mary.
I think Lucille was also a transvestite.
@Geo Dio Censors for airplay and records were indeed tough. But black performers made their chops on the circuit , playing clubs , playing live.
There were a LOT of songs in the 50s , and not just the 50s , but back in the 30s and 40s blues , that were very thinly veiled filth.
And when they were played live , to audiences that knew what to expect , not teenyboppers , they didn't bother to censor their material.
Also , it would be saying Uncle John was on the down low. Just like Little Richard himself was. It isn't a huge stretch.
Little Richard is a giant of early rock & roll, and many artists have covered his songs. One of the most frenetic covers is the eight-minute live rendition of “Lucille” by Deep Purple on their album Made in Japan (Deluxe Edition). It’s worth a listen.
Great cover.
The Everly Brothers had a big hit with 'Lucille', in their own style. They also covered several Ray Charles songs like, 'This Little Girl Of Mine'.
He was always this UP when he sang. A true showman.
Well, where did you think PRINCE got his swag from? Little Richard used to say "I did that first" to everything anyone would comment on regarding music. Michael Jackson with the WHOO HOO. "I did that first". Playing the piano backwards. "I did that first". Look at the people viewing the performance. Little Richard introduced rock & roll to the masses before it was mainstream. A True pioneer.
Little Richard is in a catagory of his own!!!!! He was one of the founders or Rock and Roll and deserves every accolade given him!!!!¡ He is a class act!!!!!!
Yes he was always a flamboyant entertainer
He was right at the beginning of Rock n Roll
This clip is from a movie
Bill Haley is sitting at the table
Beatles covered this song too
Little Richard had been payin' his dues in the south for several years (since the late 1940's??) before this 1956 performance. He perfected his sound and all his antics. He was pure energy and joy in his performances!
He was actually usually MORE over the top than this! Just wish you'd have seen a close up of him, too!
Was just going to comment that is one of his calmer performances...
This was a scene from a movie, so it was scripted and much calmer than his normal intensity.
@@rcinsley Exactly.
This performance was from the movie “The Girl Can’t Help It”. And yes he was all energy! I stood right next to the piano during one of his shows in 1966!
Pure Talent!
I was a teen in the 80s, so this was my parents’ teen years’ music.
Mama swore Little Richard had to have worn out his clothes from the inside out, he was so “busy” on stage, jumping and moving so much. 🤣
And, yes. Flamboyant was a great word to use to describe him. High energy, full of sass and attitude … He left MOST of it on stage, but not all of it. He put on a show WHEREVER he went. Find some of his interviews from different decades. The man never slowed down. ❤️
He also sang “The Girl Can’t Help It”. Great song. Also high energy.
In musical terms, Little Richard was more influential than Elvis, as was Buddy Holly. Elvis inspired people to sing, Chuck Berry inspired people to pick up a guitar, Jerry Lee -- a piano, but in regards to sound and style it was Little Richard. He left the business at the height of his career to become a preacher for God, although he did later go back into the business.
Ah BS
Love Little Richard ... but nobody was more influential than Elvis, dude. He's still rockin' the world today!
Great song! If you want more crazy falsetto, you need to listen to Chris Isaak- Wicked Game and also Finr Young Canibals- She Drives me Crazy. Both iconic songs!
He was so good he would sell out shows in the Jim Crowe south. A bisexual flamboyant black man playing to all whits crowds many times just shows how music is the greatest power to bring people together.
There has not been or ever will be anyone like the legendary Little Richard...Godfather of Rock N Rock.
He was always like this. He taught Paul McCartney to scream. He had Jimi Hendrix and James Brown in his band at different times. “Lucille”, “Good Golly Miss Molly”, “Rip It Up”, “Slippin’ and Slidin’”
"The Architect of Rock & Roll", on the Mount Rushmore of Modern Music. Fats Domino brought the class, Chuck Berry supplied the poetry, Little Richard gave us the glitz, Jerry Lee Lewis brought the wildness. Many more beyond the four: Elvis brought the sex, Gene Vincent brought the danger, Carl Perkins represented the Rockabilly, Roy Orbison brought the operatic artistry. Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and Eddie Cochran died way too young. And on and on...
good list, incomplete but a decent start, especially remembering eddie c. he was a huge influence and died much too young.
This guy was a great performer! I would suggest The Tokens "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" live version please!
And guess who played in his back up band in the `60's? Jimi Hendrix
One of the most charismatic showmen in history. And a Beatles influencer.
LR, Chuck Berry, Jerry Lee Lewis, James Brown were always on fire…they had the music in them…all great
More Little Richard. He never disappoints. The Beatles do a great version of Long Tall Sally on one of their early albums. Paul McCartney was hugely inspired by Little Richard.
It was an EP, it was the title track. McCartney idolized him and he knew it ;p
He was still performing like that even as an old man. Little Richard had endless energy.
Little Richard gave every song EVERYTHING. Any song you check out of his will almost wear you out just watching.💖💖💖
He brought it EVERY TIME. I'm 75 years old and saw it happen!
You have to try understand the time this came out, Rock and Roll was the " Devil's music !" . You had to have guts galore to preform like this. Groundbreaking is just a start, this was a music style never heard before. Tutti Fruity next, please !!
Imagine seeing this in the 50s it was considered outrageous but of course the teens loved it. He always put this energy in all his performances
Check out Richard's song "Keep a Knockin'." Full of energy.
The electric guitar was invented in the 30s, and Blues went electric in Chicago in the 40s. But I think it took a while before the electric guitar could be really loud, and that's why much of early rock'n'roll leant so heavily on the saxophone and the piano.
YES! Always the energy, the bein' himself. I was 10 yrs old then and tearin' it up with him!
Without Little Richard, there is no rock and roll. There's been no one else like him, before or since. Thanks to the hosts for their pure and joyous reactions.