Throwback: RIP Little Richard

Throwback: RIP Little Richard

My sleeping patterns were unusual before COVID-19 and lately they’ve been even more unusual. Last night, I wound up nodding off a few times with my MacBook Pro literally in my lap while I was supposedly working on something or another. Eventually, I got the hint and called it a night — earlier than I’ve normally been doing. (Usually, I’m up until 6:00 or 7:00AM and I’ll get up around 11:30-Noon or so.)

Besides work, there isn’t a whole lot to do really do.  And since I can work whenever and however, I’m usually not in a desperate rush to do things. Typically, my day starts with me going through my Facebook timeline and other things on my phone. I manage to do this without wearing my glasses — for a little bit, at least. So, as I was scrolling through Facebook, a friend of mine had mentioned that the legendary Little Richard had died.

Copious amounts of ink — real and virtual — have been spilled covering the man and his life, so I won’t get into his biography but what I will say is that the man’s influence on music has been massive. As a friend aptly put it: James Brown got his big break as a Little Richard impersonator. Jimi Hendrix got his start playing guitar in Little Richard’s band. The Beatles bonded and formed over a mutual love of his work. Bob Dylan and Freddie Mercury began with his music.

While we’re commemorating the man and his work, let’s also remember a few very important things:

• Rock ‘n’ roll is at its core Black music.
• American culture is Black culture.
• Black people have contributed so much to this world — and have received so very little.
• The king is dead! Long live the king! Long live the king!

Rest in peace, Little Richard. Rest in peace.