Jimmy Page, Ringo Starr And Others Pay Tribute To Little Richard
Words by Riley Fitzgerald
Graphic by Press
Little Richard has passed away aged 87.
A dazzling flash of camp, aggression, sexuality, Richard Wayne Penniman was an icon of soul, funk, and rock ‘n’ roll.
After beginning his career playing church organs and performing in traveling medicine shows, Richard shot to prominence in the mid-1950s with a string of successful singles.
With the bizarre opening shout to 1955 single ‘Tutti Frutti’ – “A-wop-bop-a-loo-bop-a-wop-bam-boom!” – Richard took America by storm.
Hits ‘Long Tall Sally’, ‘Good Golly Miss Molly’, ‘Rip It Up’ and ‘Lucille’ would quickly follow.
Inciting hysteria, Richard would appear on stage clad in a heavy coat of makeup.
Famously, he would quit music while touring Australia in 1957 to become a preacher before returning to secular music in 1963.
After enjoying a lengthy career in the twilight of his early achievements, Richard passed away this week after a struggle with bone cancer.
His wild music and extravagant stage manner made Richard an inspiration for thousands of musicians which followed.
“It’s Little Richard’s songs that pioneered rock’n’roll,” Led Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page writes via Instagram. “I got to hear him and his band at the Newport Lounge in Miami and boy were they good.”
Ringo Starr, who became friends during the Beatles‘ early Hamburg period in Germany, also paid tribute.
“God bless little Richard,” the drummer wrote, “one of my all-time musical heroes. Peace and love to all his family.”
Starr also shares a picture of Richard and the Beatles together during the 1960s.
Before his death in 2001, Ringo’s bandmate George Harrison would also tip his hat to Little Richard at the Fab Four’s 1988 induction into the Rock And Roll Hall of Fame.
“Little Richard,” Harrison joked, “it’s all his fault really.”
Sean Ono Lennon, son of John Lennon has also recalled fond memories of Richard.
“I was lucky enough to meet you a couple of times,” he writes, “Grew up listening to your 45s in dad’s jukebox. You told me it was really you who invented Rock n’ Roll. Rest In Peace.”
“Rest in peace,” Sean’s mother Yoko Ono has stated in a Tweet of her own.
Echoing Yoko and Sean’s remarks, John Lennon’s official Instagram account has shared an old quote from the Beatle reading: “Little Richard was one of the all-time greats. The first time I heard ‘Long Tall Sally’ it blew our heads. We’d never heard anybody sing like that in our lives, all those saxes playing like crazy. It used to make your hair stand on end when he did that long scream into the solo.”
Paul McCartney has yet to comment but earlier this year revealed that he still listened to Richard’s ‘Tutti Frutti’ regularly while working out.
“The Beatles started with me at the Star Club in Hamburg, Germany before they ever made a record,” Little Richard would affectionately recall in a 2004 interview with Rolling Stone, “but they’re going to always be in front of me.”
Elton John closes out these tributes with a heartful message of his own.
“Without a doubt,” he writes, “musically, vocally and visually – he was my biggest influence. Seeing him live in my teens was the most exciting event in my life at that point. Goosebumps, electricity and joy came from every pore.”
'Little Richard was one of the all-time greats. The first time I heard ‘Long Tall Sally’ it blew our heads. We’d never heard anybody sing like that in our lives, all those saxes playing like crazy. It used to make your hair stand on end when he did that long scream into the solo' pic.twitter.com/6fUTDYr7Wo
— John Lennon (@johnlennon) May 9, 2020
Without a doubt – musically, vocally and visually – he was my biggest influence. Seeing him live in my teens was the most exciting event in my life at that point. Goosebumps, electricity and joy came from every pore. pic.twitter.com/Enno1mgfTO
— Elton John (@eltonofficial) May 9, 2020
I just heard the news about Little Richard and I’m so grieved. He was my shining star and guiding light back when I was only a little boy. His was the original spirit that moved me to do everything I would do.
— Bob Dylan (@bobdylan) May 9, 2020
In his presence he was always the same Little Richard that I first heard and was awed by growing up and I always was the same little boy. Of course he’ll live forever. But it’s like a part of your life is gone.
— Bob Dylan (@bobdylan) May 9, 2020
Rest in Peace, Little Richard
love, yoko pic.twitter.com/VKa6bdsNxo— Yoko Ono (@yokoono) May 9, 2020
