Not so little Little Richard

We lost a true musical great this month: Richard Wayne Penniman, aka Little Richard.
He burst onto the music scene in the 1950’s and changed popular music forever, laying groundwork for rock and roll and influencing so many other musical genres, including R&B, hip-hop and rap, and musical artists like Jimi Hendrix, Bob Dylan, Beatles, Rolling Stones, Michael Jackson, Prince, and so on and so on…  Rockers everywhere tried to emulate his raspy vocals and incredible energetic and fun performance style.  Little Richard was in the first group of inductees into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and received so many other honors in his lifetime.  The USA Library of Congress added his recording, Tutti Frutti, to the National Recording Registry, acknowledging that it launched a new era of music.  WOW!  

Have a Dance Party
Look up any number of his songs on whatever you use to access music:
Tutti Frutti, Rip It Up, Long Tall Sally, Slippin’ and Slidin’, Good Golly, Miss Molly - to name just a few.  Then let the dance party begin!  If you aren't moving, you ain't alive!

Then Slow it down
When you are finished dancing and need a moment to rest, listen to Hurry Sundown and Freedom Blues - breathtaking songs about freedom and hope.  I've been obsessed with these songs.

Thank you Little Richard for sharing your musical brilliance with all of us!  Your influence is endless and carries on...