Obit: ‘Little’ Richard Penniman (1932-2020)

Subject: Obit: ‘Little’ Richard Penniman
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 09 May 20 - 11:34 AM

Another great one gone. RIP Little Richard - you rocked!

Subject: RE: Obit: ‘Little’ Richard Penniman
From: GUEST,Starship
Date: 09 May 20 - 11:58 AM

I will always remember him because of this song from decades past:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C0OF5ZMw4hk

RIP.

Subject: RE: Obit: ‘Little’ Richard Penniman
From: fat B****rd
Date: 09 May 20 - 01:42 PM

One of my all-time favourites and an early influence on my vocal 'style'. I saw him added to the bill on an Everlys tour at Doncaster in 1963*. He was magnificent!. My friends and I 'ran down the aisle' and leapt up and down. One of my greatest musical memories.
RIP Mr. Penniman
*The Rolling Stones were way down the bill.

Subject: RE: Obit: ‘Little’ Richard Penniman
From: GUEST,Modette
Date: 09 May 20 - 01:46 PM

Even I know this one and surely it's A-wop-bop-a-loo-bop-a-wop-bam-boom, though I suppose someone called 'poopsucker' shouldn't be relied upon for accuracy.

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The troll, who had contributed several posts with different names, has been deleted. Carry on.

Subject: RE: Obit: ‘Little’ Richard Penniman
From: Jeri
Date: 09 May 20 - 02:31 PM

Modette, it's actually "wop-bop-a-loo-a-lop-bam-boom". If you're gonna go to the trouble of correcting someone's lyrics, you should get them right.

When I think of the people who've lived while I've been here,I'm pretty amazed I'm still here.

Subject: RE: Obit: ‘Little’ Richard Penniman (1932-2020)
From: punkfolkrocker
Date: 09 May 20 - 03:10 PM

Dispute over the correct authoritative written transcription of deliberate gibberish..

typical mudcat folkies...

Thank f@ck for rock 'n' roll...!!!

The early 1970s Teddy Boy revival hooked me and my best mate
when we were 12 year old schoolboys discovering music we liked..

For us, at that time of hippy prog rock,
Little Richard was a life changing force of rude musical anarchy,
years before the evolution of punk rock..
.. which he so obviously influenced...

cheers Mr Penniman...

Subject: RE: Obit: ‘Little’ Richard Penniman (1932-2020)
From: GUEST,keberoxu
Date: 09 May 20 - 05:05 PM

When Little Richard was genuinely little,
he went to a performance by
Sister Rosetta Tharpe,
and she anointed him, as it were, in front of the whole audience --
she was rock and roll before he was.

(Check out videos of her if you don't believe me)

Subject: RE: Obit: ‘Little’ Richard Penniman (1932-2020)
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 09 May 20 - 05:14 PM

Little Richard appeared as himself many times in various films and television programs - there was no point in writing a part for someone "like Little Richard" and casting him, because he was always himself and a different name or character was going to fool no one.

I am so sorry that his death was due to bone cancer—that is one really awful way to die.

Subject: RE: Obit: ‘Little’ Richard Penniman (1932-2020)
From: The Sandman
Date: 09 May 20 - 05:22 PM

When I think of the people who've lived while I've been here,I'm pretty amazed I'm still here"
I am pleased you are still here ,too.

Subject: Obit: Little Richard May 9 2020
From: EBarnacle
Date: 09 May 20 - 07:26 PM

A true original who led a conflicted life.


https://www.cbsnews.com/news/little-richard-rock-n-roll-pioneer-has-died-at-87/

Subject: RE: Obit: ‘Little’ Richard Penniman (1932-2020)
From: Rusty Dobro
Date: 10 May 20 - 03:47 AM

When I was working at Heathrow, my boss came in and said to me, 'You like music, don't you?'

Sensing a catch, I reluctantly agreed, and he said, 'We've got Little Richard outside,with a problem in his paperwork. He's getting cross, so can you take him for a coffee while we sort it out?'

I went out, and there was Richard, much taller than I expected due to high heels and that famous hairstyle. He was wearing dungarees with no shirt, over the most Trumpian orange tan I'd ever seen, with lipstick and mascara. We went for a coffee, and although he was grumpy, as people delayed at airports often are, he mellowed when he found that I had tickets for the London Rock and Roll Show that weekend (LR, Chuck Berry, Bill Haley, Bo Diddley, Jerry Lee Lewis, Billy Fury, Heinz, Wizzard, Gary Glitter (!), Lord Sutch, Joe Brown, Emile Ford, and many others, all for £1.80)

We spent one of the more interesting half-hours of my life, and I still have his photo from the 'Melody Maker', duly autographed. As for the show, Richard was angry not to be top of the bill over Chuck Berry, and refused to leave the stage as the midnight dead-line grew nearer, meaning that Chuck's act was drastically cut short.

RIP Richard - truly an original.

Subject: RE: Obit: ‘Little’ Richard Penniman (1932-2020)
From: Roger the Skiffler
Date: 10 May 20 - 04:13 AM

Another sound from my teens.
RtS

Subject: RE: Obit: ‘Little’ Richard Penniman (1932-2020)
From: Tony Rees
Date: 10 May 20 - 05:55 AM

Apparently Richard was heavily influenced by a near contemporary Eskew Reeder (S.Q. Reeder), aka "Esquerita", who never made the big time in contrast to Richard's huge career. Apparently Reeder's act/music was so dynamic and/or plain weird as to make Richard's look tame by comparison. He died in obscurity, of AIDS, in 1986. Interesting, and thought provoking about the ways of the universe, and how destinies can diverge... more info here (and you can find audio tracks on youtube too):

https://www.oxfordamerican.org/magazine/item/1857-esquerita-and-the-voola

Subject: RE: Obit: ‘Little’ Richard Penniman (1932-2020)
From: jojofolkagogo
Date: 10 May 20 - 10:58 AM

Well, thanks for deleting my post Joe, but I am not a troll, dont even know what that is. I am, and have always been Jo-Jo (folkagogo).

Cant remember what I writ, but something about Richard being a great ballad singer - listen to Direct from My Heart and The Most I can Offer

My absolute faves are Wonderin' and Send Me Some Lovin'
Jo-Jo

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Your post contained responses to the troll who posted eight times with different names with anti-gay and racial slurs. It was easier to remove your part of that conversation when the troll was removed. We're glad you like Little Richard, but are disappointed you have such a dim view of Elvis.

Subject: RE: Obit: ‘Little’ Richard Penniman (1932-2020)
From: Tony Rees
Date: 10 May 20 - 06:59 PM

Well this is Esquerita, not Little Richard - definitely wild!

Esquerita - Believe Me When I Say Rock´n´Roll Is Here To Stay

I think LR probably got it right when he toned the general atmosphere down a bit...

Subject: RE: Obit: ‘Little’ Richard Penniman (1932-2020)
From: GUEST,Pete from seven stars link
Date: 13 May 20 - 07:19 AM

Never heard of this muso , certainly see him as strong competition to L Richard musically

Subject: RE: Obit: ‘Little’ Richard Penniman (1932-2020)
From: GUEST,Modette
Date: 13 May 20 - 11:54 AM

I particularly enjoyed this piece in today's Guardian by Tavia Nyong'o.

Too Black, Too Queer, Too Holy

This made me giggle more than a little bit.

'...perhaps we might do better to listen to the artist, introducing himself at the Club Matinee in Houston, Texas, in 1953: “Little Richard, King of the Blues … and the Queen, too!"'

Subject: RE: Obit: ‘Little’ Richard Penniman (1932-2020)
From: GUEST,Nick Dow
Date: 13 May 20 - 03:09 PM

When he got the chance he was a hell of a bluesman. Bob Hite and Canned Heat gave him that chance in the late 60's and he forgot the showmanship and got down deep and dirty with his Blues Roots. I wish there was some film of that period in his life. All we have is Fito De la Parras' account of his performance in the Canned Heat Biography 'Living the Blues'
RIP Little Richard