Talk:Little Richard

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It is irrelevant that he is African-American!! —Preceding unsigned comment added by 68.44.149.123 (talk) 02:52, 31 October 2007 (UTC)

Contents

[edit] "The Upsetters"

According to a Youtube video info: (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D-nijNBAnGM) Part of Hendrix's flamboyant stage persona may have been inspired by rock pioneer Little Richard, with whom he toured as part of Richard's back-up band, "The Upsetters". Could I have more info about it or confirm this?

[edit] Tutti Frutti

I do believe that Tutti Frutti was originally called Loose Booty. The new name and lyrics were just to make the song releasable.

This sounds interesting... Do you know if the original song is available anywhere?

Tutti Frutti's lyrics were cleaned up but it was not called loose booty and there is no recording of the original lyrics.

"A WOP BOP A LOO BOP A GOOD GOD D***! TUTTI FRUTTI GOOD BOOTY, TUTTI FRUTTI GOOD BOOTY TUTTI FRUUUTI GOOD BOOTY, TUTTI FRUTTI GOOD BOOTY, TUTTI FRUTTI GOOD BOOTY. A WOP BOP A LOO BOP A GOOD GOD D**!

... from the spanish wiki: http://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Little_Richard
"Tutti Frutti, good, booty / If it don't fit, don't force it / You can grease it, make it easy"


Little Richard performed this at his early live shows in the Atlanta area of Georgia in the very early 1950s.

[edit] Discography

I don't trust that discography at all. Little Richard is not about albums. In fact, to list all his albums is to do him a disservice (one that he asked for), because many of his albums consist of nothing but remakes of his hits recorded with other musicians for other record companies. Plus, I just plain don't believe that his first album was released in 1956 and called Cast a long shadow. Ortolan88 04:34, 4 Nov 2004 (UTC)

Cast a Long Shadow is a live album released in 1971... it could have been recorded much earlier, but it certainly doesn't sound like it's from 1956 (1970, more like.) PJV 16:03, 1 Feb 2006 (CST)



[edit] Gay?

Little Richard was bisexual if you read the official biography of Little Richard you will find that out.

What's the reference that he is gay? Alison9 07:24, 27 Jan 2005 (UTC)

I will add http://www.glbtq.com/arts/little_richard.html to the article. Hyacinth 17:54, 27 Jan 2005 (UTC)


he aint gay thats all i know

uh, yes he is. He admitted it at one point, and then renounced it, which some say was due to pressure from his faith and the public's shock

Its not hard to beleive, i mean, look at his hair! —Preceding unsigned comment added by 72.10.126.34 (talk) 13:59, 17 December 2007 (UTC)

More references concerning LR's sexual orientation:

  • In 1979, during a revival meeting in North Richmond, California, he warned the congregation about the evils of rock & roll music and declared, "If God can save an old homosexual like me, he can save anybody." http://www.classicbands.com/littlerichard.html
  • Little Richard was the most exciting and dynamic musical figure that the world had ever seen up to that point. Compared to most of the other records of the day, "Tutti-Frutti" was like an atomic bomb exploding. Over the course of the next three years Richard released several of the greatest rock and roll records ever made, and established himself as the most radical of all of the rock and roll superstars of the day. Most adults in those days thought that his music was absolutely barbaric, and to top it off, he regularly wore makeup on stage, had a wild hairdo, and led a fairly open bisexual lifestyle for those days. http://www.digitaldreamdoor.com/pages/best_artists-bio/lrichard.html
  • "Little Richard" was made with the approval of the now-67-year-old Richard, who is credited as its executive producer. But in interviews he's complained about the accuracy of the script and its inferences about a gay sex life he already has admitted to in his own autobiography. Go figure. http://www.rockabilly.net/articles/littlerichard2.shtml

And yeah, I'd say a rock musician's sexual orientation was pretty damn pertinent to his biography and to his art. Tutti-frutti!

Kaicarver 12:46, 28 July 2006 (UTC)

Yeah it's pretty strange no mention is made whatsoever of his sexuality in this article. I remember seeing a documentary on rock music where after his religous turn in the 50s posters promoting his shows actually said something like "From Homosexual to Man of God". WesleyDodds 03:59, 3 August 2006 (UTC)
Dunno, not really viable information. Maybe we should all check his autobiography. Not only that, but this guy (Little Richard) believes it to be a choice, therefore, he wouldn't be "gay anymore". Even so, he has made songs about, well, women. IronCrow 02:43, 23 January 2007 (UTC)
Then the history of his sexual orientation should have its own section, complete with all flip-flops. Same as any other rockstar who came out and then recanted, of which there are plenty. Perhaps a reference to the ex-gay movement is in order. LeaHazel : talk : contribs 18:03, 30 January 2007 (UTC)
I agree.. and he was just featured on Logo (TV channel) for Black History Month, and about how he was thrown out of the family because he was gay, and later "denounced" it in the 60s. There's no reference at all in this article, which I found surprising. Tertiary7 21:52, 3 February 2007 (UTC)
I'd like to note that Tutti Frutti (song) describes Little Richard as "openly gay" at the time the song was written. If this claim cannot be substantiated, please remove it. --Ghirla -трёп- 17:06, 14 February 2007 (UTC)
I just removed that info per Wikipedia:Biographies of living persons. The policy is to "remove unsourced or poorly sourced controversial material" about living people. There must be a reliable source before it can be readded.--Roswell native 20:35, 14 February 2007 (UTC)
Let's face it, this article is an embarrassing example of Wikipedia at its worst. LR's struggles over his sexuality are a crucial part of his life story, and for them to go unmentioned in this fluff article is a showpiece example of how some Wikipedia editors would prefer to sidestep controversy rather than cover it. Anyone who knows the slightest thing about the man's life knows that the sexuality issue underlies much of what is already written here. I will be adding a complete and sourced "Sexuality" section within several days. Everyone who has already worked on this article should be ashamed of themselves. What a scared little "encyclopedia" this is sometimes. Why do we have so many people like "Roswell native" who would prefer to remove information rather than go find a source for it? 65.190.89.154 (talk) 07:24, 27 November 2007 (UTC)
Oh, look. I've already re-added one source on his homosexuality that was removed from the article by the same sort of people who ostensibly want sources on this sort of thing. The source quotes LR's autobiography, where he discusses his masturbation habits and homosexual fantasies. I wonder why that was so easy to find: oh, yes, because LR's struggles with his sexuality are very well-documented, and anyone who was interested in creating an encyclopedia rather than whitewashing an encyclopedia could easily source any information on the subject. 65.190.89.154 (talk) 07:37, 27 November 2007 (UTC)
Just to include the excerpt of the man's AUTObiography (did you see the "auto" there? hmmm?), which was already used as a source in this article before it was removed: My whole gay activities were really into masturbation. I used to do it six or seven times a day. In fact everybody used to tell me that I should get a trophy for it, I did it so much. I got to be a professional jack-offer. I would do it just to be doing something ... Felt bad after I did it though. I'd always be mad after I finished ... Most gay people fall in love with themselves. I suppose that "Roswell native" searched long and hard for information of this sort before removing information about LR's homosexuality from an article. He probably really busted his ass looking for some confirmation, but just couldn't find any. Oh, no, wait, he is one of those people who would prefer to remove pertinent information than spend ten seconds looking for a source. These people are a plague, and should be banned en masse. 65.190.89.154 (talk) 07:44, 27 November 2007 (UTC)
Okay, I apologize. I'm getting a bit worked up. I just have no idea how Wikipedia could have a relatively well-developed article on one of the most crucial figures in the American national culture - and in the history of 20th-century art - and not mention a matter of the utmost importance in his life. Not even mention it. A matter that he goes into in his own autobiography. I'm sorry for singling out "Roswell native", but I don't see why one can't do a single Google search instead of removing information. This is censorship by laziness. Any decent editor should feel a certain compulsion of conscience here. 65.190.89.154 (talk) 07:51, 27 November 2007 (UTC)
A little addendum: the source I added which shows how his autobiography chronicles his struggles with his sexuality was removed anonymously and without explanation. We've all seen how it sometimes happens in an article that is undergoing a whitewashing: first the sources are removed, then the newly "unsourced" statements are stripped away too - all this quietly and under cover of night. Some people are quite vested in keeping things out of articles at all costs. This is an ongoing problem in Wikipedia, and diligent amateur censors are in many ways a bigger threat than ordinary vandals. 65.190.89.154 (talk) 04:05, 10 December 2007 (UTC)
And we're back again. Yes, for yet another time, a note about his sexuality - a sourced note - was removed from this article without explanation. This is a case of whitewashing and censorship, and the community needs to be more on guard with this sort of thing. 65.190.89.154 (talk) 01:20, 25 December 2007 (UTC)


[edit] LBGT Section?

So now we all know about the fact that Little Richard WAS gay during his ealy years, I think it's appropiate we add the LBGT project section for him.

Spokenwordsegment (talk) 15:20, 26 December 2007 (UTC)

Agreed. I'm not personally involved with that project, but the ongoing anonymous censorship of this article is infuriating to me. Perhaps an entire section will be harder for the forces of censorship to remove than a single little sentence. 65.190.89.154 (talk) 21:16, 26 December 2007 (UTC)

[edit] "however, he can't swim"

? 83.253.38.57 21:39, 10 March 2006 (UTC)

Should anyone care whether or note he's gay or bi-sexual? He is an True American Idol and historic figure. He fits my definition of transvestite ( heavy make-up, wigs, etc.) Oh well, thank God our society has moved beyond racism, bigotry, and homophobia, so that we don't have wonder whether or not we should enjoy a talented and entertaining artist.

I think may people would disagree with yoru assessment of American society. That said, his sexuality, particularly his identity during the highly charged 60s, 70s and 80s, is relevant to the article. As to should anyone care, that's a question for philosophers. =) Elefuntboy 01:16, 17 August 2006 (UTC)
I think we should remove all information about Little Richard from this article, because society has moved beyond needing to know anything about anyone. Why do we need to know, for instance, that he was a rock 'n' roll singer? We have moved beyond such shallow and backward distinctions of genre! Why do we need to know that he was born in Georgia? Why such petty territorialism? I recommend that this article, and all biographical articles on Wikipedia, have all information removed from them immediately, as we have moved beyond needing to know facts about people. Why do we have to mention that such and such person is Polish, and another person is from Zimbabwe? That one person is a scientist, and another person an Olympic-quality archer? We are all one, all holy! Why distinguish one person from another, as we are all the children of our Lord? DELETE BIOGRAPHIES NOW. 65.190.89.154 (talk) 07:31, 27 November 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Infobox image

wth is wrong with tht person? ^^^ dude chill. i need this stuff for my home work and anyway biographies are a way to remeber the great legends of our country, our sociaty. Everybody wants to be remembered and i think we should give such great influential people of this world credit and recognitions for all there work and contributions. and i luv rock music

[edit] Anecdote

Is it true, that after 1957 Little Richard walked door to door trying to buy his own records (that he now regarded as sinful) back from people? --128.214.205.4 09:08, 8 September 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Trivia section

The items in this section need to be incorporated into the body of the article. This isn't me "whining", it's a guideline in the Wikipedia Manual of Style - specifically Wikipedia:Avoid trivia sections in articles. Almost all of the items in this section are uncited as well, so if they can't be incorporated into the article, then the section just needs to be removed. --Roswell native 13:40, 18 February 2007 (UTC)

I've cut out parts of the trivia section - mostly ones that revealed, shock horror, that Little Richard sings. Pontificake 14:46, 18 February 2007 (UTC)
Thanks Pontificake, since some editors keep removing the {{toomuchtrivia}} template without even the courtesy of talking about it on this talk page, I plan on removing the trivia section entirely unless someone objects here. In perusing it again just now, all of it seems non-noteworthy and non-encyclopedic in my opinion. I'll be happy to try and incorporate any trivia deemed otherwise, but the section needs to go per Wikipedia policy cited above. --Roswell native 07:23, 19 February 2007 (UTC)
Ideally parts would be incorporated into the main article. I'd retain his having performed celeb marriages (subject to verifiability) and having a biopic made about him. Possibly keep appearing on Sesame Street and Celebrity Duets (but only if that was a major show in the USA). Pontificake 09:12, 19 February 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Moving the Trivia section to the talk page while sources are verified

[edit] Trivia

As suggested in WP:TRIVIA, I'm moving the trivia section here to capture the info until sources can be verfied for incorporation back into the article.

  • Little Richard has used his status as a Minister of the Gospel to occasionally perform celebrity weddings, most notably those of Cyndi Lauper, Tom Petty, Bruce Willis and Demi Moore, and Bruce Springsteen.
  • In 1994, Little Richard provided the voice of a parody character of himself in Food Rocks, a now closed Epcot attraction at Disney World. Little Richard voiced a pineapple named Richard.
  • In the early to mid '90s, Little Richard performed several songs for children's PBS programs. He sang a rendition of "Rubber Ducky" on Sesame Street and also sang the theme song for The Magic School Bus.
  • Little Richard appeared twice on Sesame Street once in 1993, performing a new version of "Rubber Duckie", and again in 2002, singing with the monster Rosita.
  • In 2000, a made-for-tv biopic, Little Richard, was televised, starring Leon Robinson in the title role. Leon was nominated for an Emmy Award for his performance, as was David Sibley for Outstanding Music Direction.
  • In 2005, Little Richard appeared, along with Madonna, Iggy Pop, Bootsy Collins, and The Roots' ?uestlove in an American TV commercial for the Motorola ROKR phone.
  • In January 2006, Penniman gave the eulogy and preached briefly at the funeral of his longtime friend Wilson Pickett.
  • In August 2006, Little Richard was signed as one of three celebrity judges in British music mogul Simon Cowell's television show Celebrity Duets, which aired in September and October 2006 on the Fox network.
  • On tour the weekend of James Brown's funeral, Little Richard dedicated his 2006-07 New Year's Eve performance to his longtime friend's family.
  • Little Richard has tour dates booked through to May 2007.
  • A high school Bob Dylan gave his ambition as "to join Little Richard."
  • Little Richard used to masturabte six or seven times a day, involving homosexual fantasy. He writes in his autobiography, "My whole gay activities were really into masturbation. I used to do it six or seven times a day. In fact everybody used to tell me that I should get a trophy for it, I did it so much. I got to be a professional jack-offer. I would do it just to be doing something ... Felt bad after I did it though. I'd always be mad after I finished ... Most gay people fall in love with themselves. " [1]

[edit] I don't think Little Richard Died

According to the first sentence Little Richard died today. I have searched and searched for anything about it, and so far nothing has been said in the media that I could find. Someone should check this out and correct it if he hasn't died. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 76.173.179.174 (talk) 06:06, 31 March 2007 (UTC).

Well, I just saw him perform live on the capitol Mall in Washington D.C. so he's most definitely alive. The performance by the way was amazing. Drama Porch 05:24, 5 July 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Great Gosh A'Mighty

I corrected a factual error, which said the song "Great God A'Mighty" had its title changed to "It's a Matter of Time". Not according to my copy of the single: the title was changed to "Great Gosh A'Mighty", but that's it. 23skidoo (talk) 23:41, 8 January 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Citations & References

See Wikipedia:Footnotes for an explanation of how to generate footnotes using the <ref(erences/)> tags Nhl4hamilton (talk) 04:42, 1 February 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Age

Is this guy really 76? I find that hard to believe, I thought 80 year olds had all wrinkles and saggy skin —Preceding unsigned comment added by 99.238.27.30 (talk) 05:11, 18 February 2008 (UTC)

One of the most incredible things about Little Richard is he never aged. If you compare pictures of him from the 50's, 60's, and 70's to those now he looks almost exactly the same. Eatspie (talk) 19:41, 12 May 2008 (UTC)