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♪ Ow!♪
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Little Richard,
it's now 16 years
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since you had
your first hits.
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Oh, yes.
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Uh, do you realize that...
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Well, you must realize
that at your performances,
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now there are people
who weren't even alive
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when you first began?
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Yes,
but I have woke them up now.
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Everybody that wasn't alive
when I started and was gone,
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I have brought the spirit
and put it on them.
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Were you always so shy?
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No, I'm not.
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A lot of people say I'm shy,
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but I let it all hang out,
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every bit.
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The love, the gentleness,
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the tenderness, the kindness.
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You ain't supposed to hide them.
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You got it, God gave it,
show it to the world.
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Announcer: Ladies and gentlemen,
if you will,
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a man who's become a legend
in his own time,
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Little Richard!
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♪ Good golly, Miss Molly ♪
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♪ Sure like to ball ♪
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Jagger: That music,
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that beat, his voice.
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The...
♪ Oooh! ♪
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"My God, who is that?"
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"Who is that?"
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♪ Can't hear your mama call ♪
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♪ Oooh ♪
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♪ Good golly, Miss Molly ♪
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I'd never seen any of it before.
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♪ Sure like to ball ♪
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♪ Oooh
Good golly, Miss Molly ♪
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Jagger: Just, like, taking
your clothes off.
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♪ And when you're rockin'... ♪
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Jagger: If there's a piano,
get on it.
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He was everything.
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♪ Ow ♪
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He spit on every rule
there was in music.
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King: He created the template
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for the rock 'n' roll icon.
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Porter: Sorry, y'all.
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It wasn't Elvis.
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Jones: He was like
a meteor arriving.
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Woman: A comet.
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Man: A quasar.
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King: His DNA is everywhere.
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It's like,
how do you refer to the air?
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How do you refer to the sky?
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I'm the emancipator.
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I'm the architect.
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I'm the one that
started it all.
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- Let it all hang out!
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With the beautiful
Little Richard
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from down in Macon, Georgia.
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I want you all to know
that I am the bronze Liberace.
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- Shut up.
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Crawley: Typically we speak of
legacy in the laudatory.
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The legacy of Little Richard
is complex.
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- Please, please.
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I'd rather do it myself.
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Watching his interviews
over the decades,
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you can see
the various different versions.
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I'm not conceited.
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- I'm convinced.
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You could see him
crafting his legacy,
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presenting his story
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over and over again
in different ways.
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I was gay all my life.
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I believe I was one of the first
gay people to come out.
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But God let me know that he made
Adam to be with Eve, not Steve.
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Crawley: What was his life
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that he experienced
such delight...
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♪ He's coming ♪
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Crawley: ...and such terror
at the same time?
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You know,
I would get up off an orgy
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and go pick up my Bible.
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Newman: It's almost like having
a split personality.
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King: He's too much.
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He's too much for everyone.
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Glenn: People want it
to be a thing.
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Richard really didn't have
a thing.
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As the progeny...
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...we must understand
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what kind of spirit he was
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and how this thing
tore him asunder sometimes.
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Whoo!
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- King: He opened up a way.
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King: The opening
that says something like,
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"We can get to this place,
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but I may not
get there with you."
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I'm from a little country town.
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Macon, Georgia.
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Everybody was wondering
what was I,
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who was I,
and where was I going?
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But I knew all the time.
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I wanted to be a star.
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123
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When I was a little boy,
there wasn't any rock 'n' roll.
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♪ Save my soul ♪
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You know, everybody, you know,
that was that old thing.
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And I thought that was
the best thing
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I ever heard in my life.
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My mother would be in the
backyard washing our clothes
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on what you call
a rubboard.
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♪ ["Step It Up and Go"
by Blind Boy Fuller plays] ♪
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134
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There was a lot of blues.
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Walking down the streets,
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you would see Black singers
playing the guitar.
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♪ See my woman,
tell her hurry home ♪
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♪ Ain't had no lovin'
since she been gone ♪
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♪ Got to step it up and go ♪
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♪ Yeah, yeah ♪
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142
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143
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My mother had 12 children.
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We had to sleep on pallets
on the floor. And...
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And my mother had to
cook beans every day.
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We couldn't get enough.
You know, 'cause it's 12 kids.
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A big old pot
of rice and collard greens.
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My mother was so...
she was so sweet to me.
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150
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151
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My granddad had a old piano,
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but I couldn't play.
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I just hit every key,
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and everybody'd be about to say,
"Oh!"
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He was always banging
on the piano
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- every time you see him.
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We would always sneak down there
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and be looking in
the kitchen window.
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Everybody
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wanted to help me to play,
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but I just didn't know
how to memorize those keys.
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I used to hang out
with his brothers,
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the younger ones,
and sisters.
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His daddy,
Charles "Bud" Penniman,
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was very strict on him,
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very strict.
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He was a minister
who owned a small nightclub
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and had a bootleg house
at the same time.
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He sold stump whiskey.
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And, you know, the White people
called it Black Thunder.
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The Black people called it
White Lightning,
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- you know?
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That's the way we had our food
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and paid the rent.
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He didn't want Richard
shouting out loud
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some of the gospel stuff.
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He wanted him to sing soft.
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♪ Yeah! ♪
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I wanted to be a minister
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when I was a little boy.
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Do you want to go to heaven?
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But you got to be holy.
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Jackson: Macon is known
for its churches.
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It's the conservative
religious town.
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Jackson: Sundays, his mother
would get him up
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and he'd attend the Baptist
church with her at New Hope.
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Collier: If you sat
in the Baptist church,
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you don't move at all.
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Jackson: And then it would be
time for him
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to go to the A.M.E. Church
with his father.
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Collier: You sit
in the holy roller,
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you don't sit down at all.
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♪ Lord, Lord, Lord, Lord ♪
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All the children would go to this church.
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♪ Oh, Jesus ♪
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♪ Oh ♪
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I would get there and I would sing.
201
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But they wouldn't let me
sing that much
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'cause I wouldn't stop.
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And then people started
hearing little turns
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00:09:26,114 --> 00:09:28,284
and things in my voice
and started requesting me.
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People used to come to me
when I was a little boy
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for me to pray for them.
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And my mother used to say
that you're crazy.
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Robinson: I will say this
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a hundred thousand times,
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the South is the home
of all things queer,
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of the different,
of the non-normative,
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00:09:50,263 --> 00:09:53,703
of the other side,
of the Gothic, of the grotesque.
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Note that queerness is not...
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just about sexuality,
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00:09:59,013 --> 00:10:01,623
but about a presence in a space
216
00:10:01,793 --> 00:10:04,363
that is different
from what we require
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00:10:04,543 --> 00:10:05,673
or expect,
218
00:10:06,193 --> 00:10:07,673
different from the norm.
219
00:10:08,892 --> 00:10:10,412
And, you know,
back in that day,
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00:10:10,582 --> 00:10:11,722
you have Sunday clothes.
221
00:10:12,372 --> 00:10:14,372
So I would take
my mother's Sunday pins,
222
00:10:14,552 --> 00:10:15,722
her little brooches and things,
223
00:10:16,032 --> 00:10:18,292
and put them on
my Monday jacket.
224
00:10:18,462 --> 00:10:20,382
And my Tuesday shirt.
225
00:10:21,252 --> 00:10:22,642
I wore my mother's curtains,
226
00:10:22,812 --> 00:10:25,082
the sheets,
put on some makeup on my face.
227
00:10:25,252 --> 00:10:26,562
My daddy'd like to kill me.
228
00:10:26,732 --> 00:10:28,952
They called him a sissy,
a punk, a faggot.
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00:10:30,002 --> 00:10:31,301
Jackson: When he came to town
230
00:10:31,821 --> 00:10:34,391
and whites were exposed to him,
it was kind of a shock.
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00:10:37,311 --> 00:10:39,961
♪ I am tired ♪
232
00:10:40,141 --> 00:10:42,661
My dad didn't like my actions and my ways.
233
00:10:42,831 --> 00:10:44,621
I was born deformed
from a child.
234
00:10:45,711 --> 00:10:47,971
One of my legs was long
and one of them's small.
235
00:10:48,141 --> 00:10:50,451
And this is my long arm
and this is my short arm.
236
00:10:50,931 --> 00:10:53,110
From... I... He...
237
00:10:54,410 --> 00:10:55,410
It was just...
238
00:10:57,940 --> 00:10:59,590
I never could do nothing good.
239
00:11:02,160 --> 00:11:03,940
He told me to get out of
the house,
240
00:11:04,120 --> 00:11:06,160
that he didn't...he didn't
want me there no more,
241
00:11:06,340 --> 00:11:07,770
that he hated me.
242
00:11:08,950 --> 00:11:10,820
He says that
"I wanted seven boys,
243
00:11:10,990 --> 00:11:11,990
and you are messing it up."
244
00:11:12,730 --> 00:11:13,870
Because I was gay,
245
00:11:15,519 --> 00:11:16,779
he put me out.
246
00:11:17,389 --> 00:11:18,959
Porter: I can only imagine.
247
00:11:19,129 --> 00:11:21,129
I've lived through
my versions of that.
248
00:11:21,959 --> 00:11:24,919
It's debilitating.
It's soul crushing.
249
00:11:26,569 --> 00:11:28,529
And it can be deadly.
250
00:11:34,019 --> 00:11:35,579
251
00:11:42,418 --> 00:11:43,938
252
00:11:48,158 --> 00:11:52,078
Collier: Ann and her husband
actually took Richard in,
253
00:11:52,248 --> 00:11:53,818
let him stay upstairs.
254
00:11:53,988 --> 00:11:56,818
A white club in my hometown
called Ann's Tic Toc.
255
00:11:57,078 --> 00:11:58,647
Jackson: You know, what we would
think of as quote,
256
00:11:58,817 --> 00:11:59,957
"a gay club."
257
00:12:00,687 --> 00:12:02,347
It was kind of like a speakeasy.
258
00:12:03,087 --> 00:12:05,917
You had to know where to go
and how to get in.
259
00:12:06,867 --> 00:12:08,087
I used to play there,
260
00:12:08,267 --> 00:12:09,877
and I was singing blues
261
00:12:10,047 --> 00:12:11,397
and I was singing gospel.
262
00:12:12,007 --> 00:12:13,227
♪ All in my room ♪
263
00:12:14,747 --> 00:12:16,357
♪ Music everywhere ♪
264
00:12:16,537 --> 00:12:18,887
My favorite singer was
Sister Rosetta Tharpe.
265
00:12:23,976 --> 00:12:25,976
This Black woman could play.
266
00:12:26,936 --> 00:12:29,196
The mother of rock 'n' roll.
267
00:12:29,376 --> 00:12:30,586
There is no other mother.
268
00:12:32,156 --> 00:12:34,726
Sister Rosetta Tharpe shifted
269
00:12:34,896 --> 00:12:37,776
a lot of what we thought
was possible for Black sound
270
00:12:37,946 --> 00:12:39,386
outside of the church.
271
00:12:39,556 --> 00:12:40,596
Sister Rosetta: Come on now!
272
00:12:41,036 --> 00:12:42,736
♪ Everywhere that I go ♪
273
00:12:42,905 --> 00:12:44,295
♪ Everywhere that I be ♪
274
00:12:44,475 --> 00:12:46,435
Robinson: The purpose is to drum
275
00:12:46,605 --> 00:12:48,385
on the piano or on the guitar
276
00:12:49,955 --> 00:12:51,655
until you get to
the mountaintop,
277
00:12:52,525 --> 00:12:54,965
until you reach
the ecstatic space.
278
00:12:56,655 --> 00:12:58,225
♪ Whoa ♪
279
00:12:58,395 --> 00:12:59,925
Robinson:
When the spirit comes...
280
00:13:00,095 --> 00:13:01,625
♪ Sing in the morning,
sing in the evening ♪
281
00:13:01,795 --> 00:13:03,405
♪ Sing in the middle
of the day ♪
282
00:13:03,575 --> 00:13:05,054
Robinson: ...that is the rockin'
and the rollin'.
283
00:13:05,234 --> 00:13:08,714
♪ Jesus is born ♪
284
00:13:09,844 --> 00:13:12,104
Audience: [cheering, applauding]
285
00:13:16,244 --> 00:13:17,674
One night,
286
00:13:17,854 --> 00:13:19,074
Sister Rosetta Tharpe
came through.
287
00:13:20,554 --> 00:13:22,644
288
00:13:28,773 --> 00:13:30,473
Stewart: The Macon City
Auditorium is a venue
289
00:13:30,643 --> 00:13:33,043
that many people played
in the height of their careers.
290
00:13:36,613 --> 00:13:38,873
291
00:13:41,003 --> 00:13:42,793
Richard worked there
as a teenager.
292
00:13:44,793 --> 00:13:45,963
And I went backstage.
293
00:13:48,183 --> 00:13:50,532
And I was singing
a Sister Rosetta Tharpe song
294
00:13:50,712 --> 00:13:52,802
called "Strange Things
Happening Every Day."
295
00:13:54,892 --> 00:13:56,582
And Sister Tharpe said,
"I have a little boy,
296
00:13:56,762 --> 00:13:58,452
and he said he could
beat me singing."
297
00:13:59,062 --> 00:14:00,412
And she brought me out there.
298
00:14:00,592 --> 00:14:01,892
My mother said, "Go on, boy."
299
00:14:02,372 --> 00:14:04,982
♪ Jesus is the holy life ♪
300
00:14:05,592 --> 00:14:08,032
♪ Turning darkness into light ♪
301
00:14:08,642 --> 00:14:12,291
♪ There are strange things
happening every day ♪
302
00:14:12,471 --> 00:14:14,081
♪ Na, na, na, na, mm ♪
303
00:14:14,251 --> 00:14:16,041
♪ And every day ♪
304
00:14:16,261 --> 00:14:18,261
That's the first
time I ever was on stage.
305
00:14:20,561 --> 00:14:23,311
And I was up there
just screaming and singing.
306
00:14:23,481 --> 00:14:25,661
♪ Happening every day ♪
307
00:14:27,701 --> 00:14:31,921
♪ There are strange things
Happening every day ♪
308
00:14:34,490 --> 00:14:35,880
That was the greatest thing
309
00:14:36,060 --> 00:14:36,970
ever happened to me.
310
00:14:39,150 --> 00:14:41,540
And so I had to
get out of Macon.
311
00:14:43,460 --> 00:14:45,330
Plus I was ready to shine.
312
00:14:48,810 --> 00:14:50,290
313
00:14:50,850 --> 00:14:52,380
I went with
Dr. Hudson's Medicine Show.
314
00:14:53,210 --> 00:14:54,820
He was selling snake oil.
315
00:14:55,599 --> 00:14:57,249
I would play the
piano and sing.
316
00:14:57,429 --> 00:14:59,819
Jordan: ♪ Caldonia, Caldonia ♪
317
00:14:59,989 --> 00:15:01,689
♪ What makes your big head
so hard? ♪
318
00:15:02,949 --> 00:15:04,779
I sung
the Louis Jordan "Caldonia"
319
00:15:04,959 --> 00:15:06,779
every night 'cause
I didn't know no other song.
320
00:15:07,739 --> 00:15:10,179
And I went from there
to Belle Glade, Florida,
321
00:15:10,349 --> 00:15:12,089
with B. Brown and
his orchestra.
322
00:15:13,439 --> 00:15:15,579
Then changed my name
to Little Richard.
323
00:15:18,098 --> 00:15:21,148
And then I went with
Sugar Foot Sam from Alabam.
324
00:15:22,888 --> 00:15:25,058
Hadley: There is this
touring circuit in place.
325
00:15:25,238 --> 00:15:27,588
We call it very often
the Chitlin' Circuit,
326
00:15:28,458 --> 00:15:30,678
where you have various
queer Black women
327
00:15:30,848 --> 00:15:33,028
traveling with
gold-plated teeth,
328
00:15:33,198 --> 00:15:35,808
singing dirty blues
or gutbucket blues.
329
00:15:35,988 --> 00:15:38,158
♪ I got nipples on my titties ♪
330
00:15:38,338 --> 00:15:40,077
♪ Big as the end of my thumb ♪
331
00:15:40,427 --> 00:15:43,907
♪ I got something between
my legs'll make a dead man... ♪
332
00:15:44,077 --> 00:15:46,947
Her stuff can make
a listener blush today.
333
00:15:47,127 --> 00:15:48,907
334
00:15:49,087 --> 00:15:51,607
Hadley:
So we should not be surprised
335
00:15:51,787 --> 00:15:55,477
that Little Richard
as Princess LaVonne is possible
336
00:15:55,657 --> 00:15:58,567
and happened
at that point in time.
337
00:16:00,317 --> 00:16:02,576
King: I mean, this is
something that is a fact,
338
00:16:02,746 --> 00:16:04,706
but it's often not remembered.
339
00:16:04,886 --> 00:16:06,926
At that time,
there would be drag acts.
340
00:16:08,016 --> 00:16:10,886
And Little Richard not only sang
and performed in the shows,
341
00:16:11,066 --> 00:16:12,326
he also performed in drag.
342
00:16:13,286 --> 00:16:14,976
Sugar Foot Sam from Alabam,
343
00:16:15,636 --> 00:16:17,106
they had me dressed
all kind of ways.
344
00:16:17,286 --> 00:16:20,596
He had a stage persona
called Princess LaVonne.
345
00:16:20,766 --> 00:16:22,116
Is it LaVonné or is it...
I don't know.
346
00:16:22,286 --> 00:16:23,726
I've never heard it
said out loud.
347
00:16:23,945 --> 00:16:25,685
Princess LaVonne.
348
00:16:25,855 --> 00:16:29,035
King: And so he would
put on makeup, wear a dress,
349
00:16:29,205 --> 00:16:30,735
and he would perform
as a woman.
350
00:16:32,035 --> 00:16:33,645
Homosexuality is illegal.
351
00:16:34,735 --> 00:16:36,395
Cross-dressing is illegal.
352
00:16:37,125 --> 00:16:40,355
It was seen as acceptable
only because of the context.
353
00:16:40,955 --> 00:16:43,135
Hadley: You know, this
is happening late at night.
354
00:16:43,315 --> 00:16:46,264
People are drinking,
and it allows for the lines
355
00:16:46,444 --> 00:16:48,354
of reality to become soft
356
00:16:48,834 --> 00:16:51,624
and for people to imagine
and to conjure.
357
00:16:53,184 --> 00:16:56,014
Nyong'o: So this traveling world
was crucial,
358
00:16:56,234 --> 00:16:59,504
particularly for any
gender-nonconforming,
359
00:16:59,674 --> 00:17:01,544
queer performer
360
00:17:01,804 --> 00:17:04,334
who maybe didn't
really feel welcome
361
00:17:04,504 --> 00:17:06,944
in their home or
home community.
362
00:17:14,253 --> 00:17:16,213
I was working
in Atlanta, Georgia,
363
00:17:16,383 --> 00:17:17,433
at the Royal Peacock,
364
00:17:18,953 --> 00:17:20,783
and I met a singer
named Billy Wright.
365
00:17:20,953 --> 00:17:22,433
366
00:17:22,613 --> 00:17:24,223
He wore green suits
and green and gold shoes.
367
00:17:24,393 --> 00:17:25,913
I'd never seen a man
dressed like that.
368
00:17:26,173 --> 00:17:29,353
♪ Yes, I remember ♪
369
00:17:30,133 --> 00:17:32,662
♪ All the things
that we used to do ♪
370
00:17:32,832 --> 00:17:34,012
I idolized him.
371
00:17:34,752 --> 00:17:36,182
It wasn't his voice
that got me.
372
00:17:36,362 --> 00:17:37,752
I liked the way he looked.
373
00:17:37,922 --> 00:17:39,192
Billy Wright.
374
00:17:39,362 --> 00:17:41,062
He had the high pompadour.
375
00:17:41,232 --> 00:17:42,712
The pancake makeup.
376
00:17:43,102 --> 00:17:46,022
Anthony: The mascara
and the little pencil mustache.
377
00:17:47,332 --> 00:17:49,372
He was also openly gay.
378
00:17:50,552 --> 00:17:52,291
I had already
started wearing the hair,
379
00:17:52,461 --> 00:17:55,201
but when I saw him, I started
sweeping it back on the side.
380
00:17:56,731 --> 00:17:58,601
Anthony:
And then Billy helped Richard
381
00:17:58,771 --> 00:18:00,211
get his first record deal.
382
00:18:00,991 --> 00:18:02,381
They recorded me
383
00:18:02,561 --> 00:18:04,471
in the lobby of
the radio station.
384
00:18:04,651 --> 00:18:06,131
Wasn't no studio.
385
00:18:06,301 --> 00:18:09,741
♪ Taxi, taxi
Take me anywhere ♪
386
00:18:09,911 --> 00:18:12,051
It was popular in Macon
and in Atlanta.
387
00:18:12,221 --> 00:18:13,831
♪ Taxi, taxi... ♪
388
00:18:14,001 --> 00:18:15,530
King: Richard becomes
more famous in Macon,
389
00:18:15,700 --> 00:18:17,490
and his father starts
playing these songs
390
00:18:17,660 --> 00:18:19,310
around the clock at the club.
391
00:18:21,660 --> 00:18:23,270
Richard said
for the first time in his life,
392
00:18:23,450 --> 00:18:24,750
his father was proud of him.
393
00:18:25,930 --> 00:18:27,580
And Bud Penniman
actually welcomes
394
00:18:27,760 --> 00:18:29,410
Richard back
into the family home.
395
00:18:31,370 --> 00:18:32,680
One night, I would sit there
all night
396
00:18:32,850 --> 00:18:34,550
and watch people
get off the bus, you know?
397
00:18:34,720 --> 00:18:35,630
You know, you understand.
398
00:18:36,290 --> 00:18:38,679
And he got off.
I said, "Oh, boy."
399
00:18:40,119 --> 00:18:43,429
He said, "I play piano."
I said, "I sing."
400
00:18:43,639 --> 00:18:44,769
So we got together.
401
00:18:46,519 --> 00:18:49,389
King: He had a flamboyant,
wild-child style.
402
00:18:49,559 --> 00:18:51,909
He would stand up
while playing piano.
403
00:18:52,479 --> 00:18:55,439
Hadley: Esquerita,
who is also queer,
404
00:18:55,609 --> 00:18:57,399
taught him how to play piano.
405
00:18:57,569 --> 00:18:59,398
He's a hard guy
to get along with,
406
00:18:59,568 --> 00:19:01,358
but he taught me how to play.
Thank you, Esquerita,
407
00:19:01,528 --> 00:19:02,748
wherever you are.
408
00:19:04,618 --> 00:19:06,488
Robinson: I think when people
talk about Billy Wright
409
00:19:06,668 --> 00:19:08,448
or Esquerita's influence,
they're like,
410
00:19:08,618 --> 00:19:11,098
"Oh, well, Little Richard
just stole his whole swag."
411
00:19:11,928 --> 00:19:15,198
I think that's not exactly
what's happening.
412
00:19:16,938 --> 00:19:19,548
It is another case of witness.
413
00:19:20,548 --> 00:19:24,377
They are kind of
like the mirrors
414
00:19:24,547 --> 00:19:28,337
that come into your life
to show you who you really are.
415
00:19:31,257 --> 00:19:32,777
416
00:19:33,607 --> 00:19:34,687
Sounds so sad.
417
00:19:36,697 --> 00:19:37,997
Isn't that sad?
418
00:19:40,347 --> 00:19:42,047
Whoo-whee, it make you cry.
419
00:19:42,747 --> 00:19:44,526
That was my daddy's
favorite song.
420
00:19:44,696 --> 00:19:46,176
It was called "Chain of Love."
421
00:19:49,006 --> 00:19:50,616
King: Richard told his father
he could help take care
422
00:19:50,796 --> 00:19:52,276
of the family financially,
423
00:19:52,446 --> 00:19:54,016
but he didn't have
a way to get around.
424
00:19:55,366 --> 00:19:57,316
So he told me
he was gonna help me get a car.
425
00:19:57,496 --> 00:19:59,366
But he died that Friday night.
426
00:19:59,536 --> 00:20:01,716
When I came from the club,
he was dead.
427
00:20:01,976 --> 00:20:03,506
428
00:20:03,676 --> 00:20:05,285
King: Richard's best friend
shot him.
429
00:20:17,335 --> 00:20:19,165
In order to help
support his family,
430
00:20:19,345 --> 00:20:21,735
he's a dishwasher
at a Greyhound bus station.
431
00:20:21,955 --> 00:20:23,475
432
00:20:23,655 --> 00:20:25,345
I was
making $15 a week.
433
00:20:27,174 --> 00:20:28,434
And couldn't eat
in the restaurant
434
00:20:28,614 --> 00:20:30,094
where I was fixing the stuff.
435
00:20:30,264 --> 00:20:31,524
They wouldn't let you eat?
436
00:20:31,704 --> 00:20:32,834
No, you couldn't eat there.
437
00:20:33,054 --> 00:20:33,704
You couldn't go
to the bathroom either.
438
00:20:35,484 --> 00:20:36,884
I loved my mother so much,
439
00:20:37,054 --> 00:20:39,054
and I was determined
to be something,
440
00:20:39,234 --> 00:20:41,144
to make something out of myself
to help her.
441
00:20:48,154 --> 00:20:51,193
Hadley: He's still working
the touring circuit.
442
00:20:52,853 --> 00:20:56,813
And he's part of groups that
are touring all over the South.
443
00:20:59,553 --> 00:21:02,083
444
00:21:30,412 --> 00:21:31,712
445
00:21:52,821 --> 00:21:54,481
♪ Hey, hey, hey ♪
446
00:21:54,651 --> 00:21:57,350
♪ Hey, hey ♪
447
00:21:57,960 --> 00:21:59,610
Price: I was in Augusta,
Georgia,
448
00:21:59,790 --> 00:22:03,140
and Richard came over with all
this makeup and this loud suit.
449
00:22:04,350 --> 00:22:05,880
I'd never seen
anybody like Richard.
450
00:22:06,140 --> 00:22:07,710
He had run into Lloyd Price,
451
00:22:08,050 --> 00:22:10,100
a big hit record with
"Lawdy Miss Clawdy."
452
00:22:10,270 --> 00:22:11,710
♪ ...feels so good today ♪
453
00:22:12,190 --> 00:22:14,060
Price: I had this white
and red Cadillac.
454
00:22:14,230 --> 00:22:16,500
He said, "I want a car
just like that."
455
00:22:16,850 --> 00:22:19,629
"I want to get out of Georgia.
You got to help me."
456
00:22:20,239 --> 00:22:22,019
And he says, "Make a demo
457
00:22:22,199 --> 00:22:25,419
and send it to Art Rupe
at Specialty Records."
458
00:22:25,589 --> 00:22:26,769
Of course, the rest of it
is history.
459
00:22:26,939 --> 00:22:29,159
460
00:22:29,339 --> 00:22:31,559
Ladies
and gentlemen, good evening.
461
00:22:35,999 --> 00:22:37,429
♪ Baby ♪
462
00:22:39,559 --> 00:22:42,958
♪ Don't you wish your man
had long hair like mine? ♪
463
00:22:43,258 --> 00:22:44,918
♪ Yeah ♪
464
00:22:45,398 --> 00:22:48,358
Vera: Art Rupe and his A&R man,
"Bumps" Blackwell,
465
00:22:48,528 --> 00:22:51,838
listened to Little Richard's
demo.
466
00:22:52,318 --> 00:22:53,318
Didn't think much of him.
467
00:22:55,488 --> 00:22:58,668
But Richard was constantly
pestering the secretaries.
468
00:22:58,838 --> 00:23:00,928
And the persistence paid off.
469
00:23:02,627 --> 00:23:05,197
Rupe said, okay, meet him down
in New Orleans.
470
00:23:05,367 --> 00:23:06,767
He's playing down there.
471
00:23:06,937 --> 00:23:08,637
Do a session
at Cosimo's with him.
472
00:23:11,117 --> 00:23:12,467
The back of a furniture store
473
00:23:12,637 --> 00:23:14,027
on Rampart Street.
474
00:23:14,207 --> 00:23:16,077
That's where we were recording.
475
00:23:16,247 --> 00:23:18,117
Tyler: Very small place.
476
00:23:18,297 --> 00:23:20,207
It looked like a hot dog stand.
477
00:23:22,257 --> 00:23:24,086
When you first saw
and heard Little Richard,
478
00:23:24,256 --> 00:23:25,346
what your impressions
of him were?
479
00:23:25,516 --> 00:23:26,736
- Wow.
- Wow.
480
00:23:26,916 --> 00:23:29,046
Both: [laugh]
481
00:23:29,216 --> 00:23:30,696
I was beautiful.
482
00:23:30,876 --> 00:23:32,226
And they wasn't used to being
around no young,
483
00:23:32,396 --> 00:23:33,786
good-looking guy like me.
484
00:23:34,616 --> 00:23:36,056
I'm not conceited,
either.
485
00:23:36,226 --> 00:23:40,226
Little Richard came in flitty,
running,
486
00:23:41,016 --> 00:23:43,446
and he was a very...
487
00:23:43,626 --> 00:23:45,276
well, he was very beautiful.
488
00:23:46,585 --> 00:23:48,325
When I went in,
489
00:23:48,585 --> 00:23:50,635
they wanted me to sound like
Ray Charles and B.B. King.
490
00:23:51,765 --> 00:23:53,985
♪ I'm all alone ♪
491
00:23:55,635 --> 00:23:58,815
♪ Alone in this world ♪
492
00:23:58,985 --> 00:24:01,295
♪ I'm all alone ♪
493
00:24:01,775 --> 00:24:04,555
They wouldn't let me sing
like Little Richard.
494
00:24:05,125 --> 00:24:08,084
They had me
imitating these people.
495
00:24:08,694 --> 00:24:11,654
But blues was not
what I really felt.
496
00:24:13,264 --> 00:24:14,614
I wanted to sound different.
497
00:24:14,954 --> 00:24:16,564
Me and young kids, we was tired
of all that slow music.
498
00:24:17,304 --> 00:24:18,874
Blackwell: I just stopped
the session
499
00:24:19,044 --> 00:24:20,444
because we just were not
getting anywhere.
500
00:24:21,664 --> 00:24:23,314
So they take a lunch break
501
00:24:23,484 --> 00:24:25,534
and they go over
to the Dew Drop Inn.
502
00:24:25,704 --> 00:24:27,054
503
00:24:27,624 --> 00:24:29,794
Blackwell: All of the boosters,
rounders, pimps, whores
504
00:24:29,974 --> 00:24:31,453
just hanging around,
505
00:24:32,063 --> 00:24:33,763
and there was a piano.
506
00:24:34,453 --> 00:24:37,853
And that was when I began
to know and understand Richard.
507
00:24:38,413 --> 00:24:41,503
508
00:24:55,172 --> 00:24:57,172
They didn't know
that I play piano.
509
00:24:58,872 --> 00:25:01,482
So I started singing
"Tutti Frutti" loud as I can.
510
00:25:02,092 --> 00:25:04,482
♪ A-wop-bop-a-loo-mop
a-good-hot-damn ♪
511
00:25:04,662 --> 00:25:06,742
♪ Tutti frutti, good booty ♪
512
00:25:06,922 --> 00:25:09,232
♪ Tutti frutti, good booty ♪
513
00:25:09,402 --> 00:25:11,442
♪ Tutti frutti, good booty ♪
514
00:25:11,622 --> 00:25:14,062
♪ Tutti frutti, good booty ♪
515
00:25:14,232 --> 00:25:16,321
♪ If it don't fit,
don't force it ♪
516
00:25:16,491 --> 00:25:18,671
♪ You can grease it,
make it easy ♪
517
00:25:18,841 --> 00:25:20,321
518
00:25:20,501 --> 00:25:21,451
King: But the lyrics
to "Tutti Frutti"
519
00:25:21,631 --> 00:25:23,331
are about anal sex.
520
00:25:23,541 --> 00:25:25,721
That's what they're about.
They're about penetration.
521
00:25:25,941 --> 00:25:27,461
522
00:25:27,631 --> 00:25:30,461
Vera: Bumps' ears prick up,
and he says
523
00:25:30,681 --> 00:25:32,421
"That sounds like
it could be a hit."
524
00:25:32,601 --> 00:25:33,821
♪ Tutti frutti ♪
525
00:25:34,341 --> 00:25:35,991
Vera:
But the lyrics were too lewd
526
00:25:36,171 --> 00:25:38,520
to ever get airplay
on the radio.
527
00:25:39,300 --> 00:25:41,910
So he spots Dorothy
across the room.
528
00:25:42,390 --> 00:25:44,650
Dorothy says, "You think
you could clean up this lyric?"
529
00:25:44,870 --> 00:25:46,040
Pretty nasty lyric?
530
00:25:46,220 --> 00:25:48,180
Yes, nasty. Nasty, nasty.
531
00:25:48,350 --> 00:25:50,440
Dorothy said it was dirty.
Never nothing dirty.
532
00:25:50,610 --> 00:25:52,010
Dorothy,
they was not that dirty.
533
00:25:52,180 --> 00:25:53,530
They were just as clean
as you were.
534
00:25:55,050 --> 00:25:56,320
They say I needed her,
535
00:25:56,490 --> 00:25:58,010
so I accepted the fact
that I did
536
00:25:58,190 --> 00:25:59,279
'cause I didn't know
the record business.
537
00:26:04,629 --> 00:26:05,889
538
00:26:07,979 --> 00:26:10,679
Vera: So they go back for
the session in the afternoon,
539
00:26:11,289 --> 00:26:13,199
put Richard on the piano.
540
00:26:13,379 --> 00:26:15,469
Palmer: Knew right off the bat
it was different
541
00:26:15,639 --> 00:26:17,639
when he said, "Wop bop a loo bop
a lop bom bom."
542
00:26:17,819 --> 00:26:19,559
I said, "What the hell is that?"
543
00:26:19,729 --> 00:26:20,728
544
00:26:21,598 --> 00:26:23,168
Vera: And they did
a couple of takes,
545
00:26:23,338 --> 00:26:24,818
and he sends it
back to Rupe.
546
00:26:24,998 --> 00:26:27,038
And Rupe said "Yeah,
this is different, man."
547
00:26:27,218 --> 00:26:28,568
Wasn't nothing out like it.
548
00:26:28,958 --> 00:26:30,698
And I was scared because
didn't nobody sound like that.
549
00:26:30,868 --> 00:26:32,608
I said, "Man,
they gonna laugh at me."
550
00:26:33,348 --> 00:26:35,748
Put it out and it... boom.
551
00:26:35,918 --> 00:26:37,658
♪ Wop bop a loo bop
a lop bom bom ♪
552
00:26:37,838 --> 00:26:39,968
♪ Tutti frutti, oh rootie ♪
553
00:26:40,138 --> 00:26:42,318
♪ Tutti frutti, oh rootie
Whoa ♪
554
00:26:42,488 --> 00:26:44,187
♪ Tutti frutti, oh rootie ♪
555
00:26:44,617 --> 00:26:46,667
♪ Tutti frutti, oh rootie ♪
556
00:26:46,837 --> 00:26:49,187
♪ Tutti frutti, oh rootie ♪
557
00:26:49,367 --> 00:26:52,327
♪ A wop bop a loo bop
a lop ba ba ♪
558
00:26:52,497 --> 00:26:53,977
One night
I was sitting at the house
559
00:26:54,157 --> 00:26:55,637
in Macon, Georgia,
my mama and them.
560
00:26:55,807 --> 00:26:58,117
WLAC from Nashville, Tennessee.
Gene Nobles.
561
00:26:58,287 --> 00:27:00,897
He said, "We got a new record
by a guy called Little Richard,
562
00:27:01,077 --> 00:27:03,507
and it's taken this country
by storm."
563
00:27:03,687 --> 00:27:05,906
He said "It's the most
requested record we ever had."
564
00:27:06,076 --> 00:27:07,556
I said, "Ma, that's me."
565
00:27:07,726 --> 00:27:09,386
They didn't know
I was Little Richard.
566
00:27:09,556 --> 00:27:10,956
567
00:27:11,126 --> 00:27:12,906
I said, "That's me, Ma."
I said I'm a star.
568
00:27:13,086 --> 00:27:14,606
She said,
"Shut your mouth, boy."
569
00:27:15,786 --> 00:27:17,266
I said "Mama, I'm a star."
570
00:27:17,436 --> 00:27:19,656
♪ A wop bop a loo bop
a lop, whoo! ♪
571
00:27:19,916 --> 00:27:21,566
572
00:27:24,396 --> 00:27:26,486
This Black
music was so intense,
573
00:27:26,666 --> 00:27:29,145
it was so full of power
and rhythm.
574
00:27:29,365 --> 00:27:32,975
It was so full of a fervency
and having fun.
575
00:27:33,195 --> 00:27:37,025
576
00:27:45,555 --> 00:27:46,945
♪ Oh, tutti frutti ♪
577
00:27:47,115 --> 00:27:48,335
King: Sort of like the Big Bang.
578
00:27:48,505 --> 00:27:50,334
A shot out of a cannon.
579
00:27:50,514 --> 00:27:53,604
So explosive.
It's so ferocious.
580
00:27:53,774 --> 00:27:55,294
♪ Oh, rootie ♪
581
00:27:55,474 --> 00:27:57,304
King: It just sounds
like nothing else.
582
00:27:57,474 --> 00:27:59,824
♪ A wop bop a loo bop
a lop bam boo ♪
583
00:27:59,994 --> 00:28:02,874
584
00:28:05,484 --> 00:28:08,664
Porter: Little Richard's music
is so infectious.
585
00:28:10,354 --> 00:28:12,663
Infused with so much joy.
586
00:28:16,233 --> 00:28:20,673
King: All of this
post-war aching, yearning
587
00:28:20,843 --> 00:28:26,333
teenage horniness and desire
to be erotically free.
588
00:28:26,503 --> 00:28:29,593
Put it into a musical form
that people could feel.
589
00:28:29,763 --> 00:28:31,333
Ooh-whee!
590
00:28:37,382 --> 00:28:38,512
When I came out with
"Tutti Frutti,"
591
00:28:38,692 --> 00:28:40,382
it was considered race music
592
00:28:40,562 --> 00:28:42,252
only played on Black stations.
593
00:28:42,432 --> 00:28:44,822
Black records was played
for Black people only.
594
00:28:45,002 --> 00:28:47,522
There is music and then
there's Black music.
595
00:28:47,692 --> 00:28:51,482
When Black people make music,
it's pejoratively characterized
596
00:28:51,652 --> 00:28:53,312
and classified as race music.
597
00:28:53,482 --> 00:28:54,962
Black records
wasn't getting played
598
00:28:55,142 --> 00:28:57,051
on white stations
even at that period.
599
00:28:57,231 --> 00:28:59,711
Yeah, but you know what,
the kids found it.
600
00:28:59,881 --> 00:29:01,061
We're going to hit you with
601
00:29:01,361 --> 00:29:02,801
one of the top vocal groups
in the nation.
602
00:29:02,971 --> 00:29:04,361
King: Part of that change
has to do with
603
00:29:04,541 --> 00:29:06,411
the rise of independent
deejays,
604
00:29:07,801 --> 00:29:10,721
of transistor radios,
which are in cars.
605
00:29:11,981 --> 00:29:13,811
And so you have white kids
driving in cars
606
00:29:13,981 --> 00:29:15,941
with new transistor radios,
607
00:29:16,111 --> 00:29:19,290
listening to deejays
who are playing Black music,
608
00:29:20,030 --> 00:29:22,030
which had previously been
a kind of underground music,
609
00:29:22,210 --> 00:29:23,380
especially R&B.
610
00:29:24,080 --> 00:29:26,520
Freed: This is Alan Freed, kids,
rolling right along,
611
00:29:26,690 --> 00:29:28,560
and they're really rockin'
and rollin' tonight.
612
00:29:28,740 --> 00:29:31,000
Hadley: People like Alan Freed
would go on to popularize,
613
00:29:31,170 --> 00:29:32,870
he didn't invent,
but popularized
614
00:29:33,040 --> 00:29:34,650
the term rock 'n' roll.
615
00:29:36,530 --> 00:29:38,310
Waters: All white kids
in Baltimore grew up
616
00:29:38,480 --> 00:29:41,099
listening to
the three Black stations,
617
00:29:41,269 --> 00:29:44,099
WEBB, WSID, WWIN.
618
00:29:44,269 --> 00:29:46,879
Even racists listened and loved
619
00:29:47,059 --> 00:29:48,889
all Black music
in teenage Baltimore.
620
00:29:50,669 --> 00:29:52,589
We haven't always had teenagers,
621
00:29:52,759 --> 00:29:54,019
strange as it sounds.
622
00:29:54,629 --> 00:29:58,289
The concept of the teenager
really didn't exist, per se,
623
00:29:58,459 --> 00:29:59,679
in the way that we know it now.
624
00:30:00,639 --> 00:30:03,158
This music is teens.
625
00:30:03,468 --> 00:30:05,548
[rock music playing]
626
00:30:06,688 --> 00:30:09,078
Robinson: There's a freedom
being a teenager.
627
00:30:09,248 --> 00:30:11,868
You should experiment.
628
00:30:12,038 --> 00:30:13,348
You should be different.
629
00:30:15,348 --> 00:30:16,958
And then you're supposed
to grow up
630
00:30:17,128 --> 00:30:18,958
and get back
into the normative box.
631
00:30:19,528 --> 00:30:22,478
But Little Richard is the icon
632
00:30:23,088 --> 00:30:25,227
for that next generation
of teens who's like,
633
00:30:25,397 --> 00:30:27,007
"Oh, we're not getting
in the box."
634
00:30:27,187 --> 00:30:30,187
♪ A wop bop a loo bop
a lop bam boom ♪
635
00:30:33,017 --> 00:30:36,717
King: By now, record labels
are looking to sign artists
636
00:30:36,887 --> 00:30:39,627
who can speak to this
underground Black music
637
00:30:39,807 --> 00:30:41,677
that is becoming popular
with white kids.
638
00:30:43,417 --> 00:30:44,897
They didn't want
that Black image
639
00:30:45,067 --> 00:30:46,856
- over their kids.
640
00:30:47,026 --> 00:30:48,336
They didn't want
the white kids looking up
641
00:30:48,506 --> 00:30:50,246
at this big old
greasy Black guy
642
00:30:50,426 --> 00:30:52,426
singing and screaming
and beaming and steaming.
643
00:30:52,596 --> 00:30:54,206
They said "No, no, no."
644
00:30:54,386 --> 00:30:56,126
♪ A wop bop a loo bop
a lop bam boom ♪
645
00:30:56,296 --> 00:30:57,946
♪ I got a girl named Daisy ♪
646
00:30:58,126 --> 00:30:59,516
And so
what they did was they said,
647
00:30:59,696 --> 00:31:01,386
"We're gonna put
the white butts on it."
648
00:31:02,046 --> 00:31:04,046
♪ She almost drives me crazy ♪
649
00:31:04,216 --> 00:31:06,136
♪ A wop bop a loo bop
a lop bam boom ♪
650
00:31:06,876 --> 00:31:09,615
When Elvis couldn't stop me,
they put Pat Boone on me.
651
00:31:09,785 --> 00:31:11,835
♪ I got a gal named Sue ♪
652
00:31:12,005 --> 00:31:13,875
♪ She knows just what to do ♪
653
00:31:14,055 --> 00:31:16,535
♪ I got a gal named Sue ♪
654
00:31:16,705 --> 00:31:19,145
♪ Wop bop a loo bop
a lop bam boom ♪
655
00:31:19,315 --> 00:31:20,495
Audience: [laughing]
656
00:31:20,665 --> 00:31:22,325
It's hard
to keep a straight face
657
00:31:22,495 --> 00:31:24,195
when I talk about
the Pat Boone covers.
658
00:31:24,935 --> 00:31:27,545
I mean, it's no contest there,
659
00:31:27,715 --> 00:31:29,115
no matter what race you are.
660
00:31:29,805 --> 00:31:31,594
Hadley:
This was a common practice,
661
00:31:31,764 --> 00:31:34,854
and it says something profound
about American culture
662
00:31:35,034 --> 00:31:36,554
that I think is still true,
663
00:31:37,074 --> 00:31:38,514
that Black music
664
00:31:38,684 --> 00:31:42,734
is the wellspring
of American popular music.
665
00:31:42,904 --> 00:31:44,514
But at the same time,
666
00:31:44,694 --> 00:31:46,824
these are industries
and societies
667
00:31:46,994 --> 00:31:50,084
that very often do not
value Black creators.
668
00:31:50,264 --> 00:31:51,824
♪ Wop bop a loo bop... ♪
669
00:31:52,004 --> 00:31:55,353
Hadley: Or want the Blackness
toned down.
670
00:31:57,663 --> 00:32:01,363
I was very disgusted because
I was just coming on the scene
671
00:32:01,533 --> 00:32:04,273
and all the white girls
were screaming over me,
672
00:32:04,453 --> 00:32:06,583
and the system didn't like it.
673
00:32:07,363 --> 00:32:10,193
I was not supposed to be
the hero for their kids.
674
00:32:11,113 --> 00:32:12,673
Host: And here to sing it
in person
675
00:32:12,853 --> 00:32:15,152
- is the man who made it a hit.
676
00:32:15,332 --> 00:32:17,422
Did you know that Elvis Presley
and Pat Boone
677
00:32:17,592 --> 00:32:19,982
sold more of "Tutti Frutti"
than I did?
678
00:32:20,202 --> 00:32:23,122
Don't forget, Bumps and Richard
679
00:32:24,342 --> 00:32:27,472
were going to sell a million
or a million and a half records
680
00:32:27,642 --> 00:32:29,602
if Pat Boone recorded that song.
681
00:32:29,952 --> 00:32:32,002
For which they would be
paid as songwriters.
682
00:32:32,562 --> 00:32:35,302
I was getting a half a cent
a record, which was very low.
683
00:32:35,482 --> 00:32:37,391
King: There were lots of
shenanigans at that time
684
00:32:37,571 --> 00:32:39,521
with royalty payments.
685
00:32:39,701 --> 00:32:41,311
I didn't
understand the contract.
686
00:32:41,571 --> 00:32:42,881
All I wanted to see
was "Little Richard."
687
00:32:43,051 --> 00:32:44,491
When I saw that, I said,
"I got a contract."
688
00:32:44,661 --> 00:32:45,791
I didn't even read
that little part.
689
00:32:46,791 --> 00:32:48,451
690
00:32:52,711 --> 00:32:54,761
That's my house right there on
the left where I used to live.
691
00:32:54,931 --> 00:32:56,981
That's the first house
I ever bought, right there.
692
00:32:57,671 --> 00:33:00,240
Specialty Records
gave me an advance.
693
00:33:02,110 --> 00:33:03,900
I moved my mother
and my brothers and sisters
694
00:33:04,070 --> 00:33:05,380
to Riverside, California.
695
00:33:07,070 --> 00:33:08,510
It was just beautiful
696
00:33:08,900 --> 00:33:10,340
to have an opportunity to live
in a home like this.
697
00:33:11,600 --> 00:33:12,990
It was a joy to give
them something
698
00:33:13,170 --> 00:33:14,860
that I never had before.
699
00:33:17,210 --> 00:33:19,220
That's where I met Richard.
700
00:33:21,829 --> 00:33:25,529
He looked at me and he said,
"Oh, we're gonna terrorize."
701
00:33:25,699 --> 00:33:26,879
702
00:33:28,919 --> 00:33:30,309
Java: I look like a girl.
703
00:33:32,059 --> 00:33:34,099
And he was just...
704
00:33:36,629 --> 00:33:38,189
so out there.
705
00:33:38,369 --> 00:33:40,459
I couldn't explain Richard.
706
00:33:41,149 --> 00:33:42,978
He came to my show.
707
00:33:43,148 --> 00:33:45,548
I came out in a big cape,
708
00:33:45,848 --> 00:33:48,988
and I would drop the cape
to the floor.
709
00:33:50,288 --> 00:33:53,078
I was shaped a certain way.
710
00:33:53,378 --> 00:33:56,038
And they had never
seen it before.
711
00:33:56,948 --> 00:34:00,998
He said, "Oh, if I knew you
would turn out like that,
712
00:34:01,168 --> 00:34:04,698
me and you would have kicked it
a long time ago."
713
00:34:04,867 --> 00:34:06,957
[laughs]
714
00:34:08,917 --> 00:34:11,827
I went to his house
and I met his mother,
715
00:34:12,007 --> 00:34:14,227
and that delighted me.
716
00:34:14,397 --> 00:34:16,667
She was such a beautiful person.
717
00:34:16,927 --> 00:34:21,017
She knew who he was
and what he was,
718
00:34:21,927 --> 00:34:24,367
and she loved him
in spite of it.
719
00:34:26,976 --> 00:34:28,366
720
00:34:30,766 --> 00:34:32,766
Vera: Richard was back
in New Orleans
721
00:34:32,936 --> 00:34:34,766
for a recording session.
722
00:34:35,946 --> 00:34:39,076
And he insisted upon
using his road band
723
00:34:39,246 --> 00:34:40,816
instead of these
724
00:34:40,986 --> 00:34:42,776
crème de la crème
musicians in New Orleans.
725
00:34:43,036 --> 00:34:44,556
♪ Well, long, tall Sally ♪
726
00:34:44,736 --> 00:34:46,216
♪ She's built for speed,
she got ♪
727
00:34:46,646 --> 00:34:49,475
♪ Everything that Uncle John
need, oh, baby ♪
728
00:34:49,735 --> 00:34:51,865
♪ I saw Uncle John
with long, tall Sally ♪
729
00:34:52,045 --> 00:34:54,215
♪ He saw Aunt Mary comin'
and he went down the alley ♪
730
00:34:54,395 --> 00:34:56,655
♪ Oh, baby, yeah ♪
731
00:34:56,875 --> 00:34:58,095
We upped the tempo
732
00:34:58,265 --> 00:34:59,925
and we got the words
going so fast
733
00:35:00,095 --> 00:35:01,925
that Pat Boone couldn't get
his mouth together to do it.
734
00:35:03,185 --> 00:35:04,925
He couldn't
get that rhythm right.
735
00:35:05,185 --> 00:35:07,185
- Snyder: So nobody could do it?
- They couldn't...
736
00:35:08,665 --> 00:35:10,805
Vera: "Long Tall Sally" became
an even bigger hit.
737
00:35:10,975 --> 00:35:13,234
And it actually became
a gold record.
738
00:35:13,414 --> 00:35:15,104
Sold a million copies.
739
00:35:17,244 --> 00:35:20,594
♪ Well, I saw Uncle John
with bald-head Sally ♪
740
00:35:20,764 --> 00:35:23,034
♪ He saw Aunt Mary comin' and
he ducked back in the alley ♪
741
00:35:23,204 --> 00:35:24,464
♪ Oh, baby ♪
742
00:35:24,644 --> 00:35:26,944
♪ Yes, baby ♪
743
00:35:27,124 --> 00:35:28,294
♪ Ooh ♪
744
00:35:28,474 --> 00:35:30,294
745
00:35:30,474 --> 00:35:33,383
King: Little Richard has
an incredible string of hits.
746
00:35:34,303 --> 00:35:36,213
"Tutti Frutti,"
"Good Golly, Miss Molly,"
747
00:35:36,393 --> 00:35:38,693
"Long Tall Sally,"
"Slippin' and Slidin',"
748
00:35:38,873 --> 00:35:41,573
"Jenny, Jenny," "Rip It Up,"
"Ready Teddy."
749
00:35:41,743 --> 00:35:44,133
750
00:35:47,313 --> 00:35:49,313
♪ Lucille ♪
751
00:35:49,493 --> 00:35:52,013
♪ Won't you do
your sister's will ♪
752
00:35:53,803 --> 00:35:55,492
♪ Lucille ♪
753
00:35:56,022 --> 00:35:59,982
♪ Won't you do
your sister's will ♪
754
00:36:00,152 --> 00:36:03,852
♪ You ran off and married,
but I love you still ♪
755
00:36:05,502 --> 00:36:09,162
The first songs that you love
that your parents hate
756
00:36:09,332 --> 00:36:11,472
is the beginning
of the soundtrack of your life.
757
00:36:11,902 --> 00:36:15,032
And in my case, it was
most definitely "Lucille."
758
00:36:15,212 --> 00:36:17,342
♪ I asked my friends about her,
but all their lips were tight ♪
759
00:36:17,521 --> 00:36:18,991
♪ Lucille ♪
760
00:36:19,431 --> 00:36:22,301
Little Richard gave me the fuel
to rebel really, really early.
761
00:36:22,481 --> 00:36:25,041
I definitely stole
some Little Richard records.
762
00:36:25,221 --> 00:36:26,221
I can't remember which,
763
00:36:26,921 --> 00:36:29,571
because I stole
lots of records.
764
00:36:32,831 --> 00:36:34,791
King: Just on the level
of piano alone,
765
00:36:34,971 --> 00:36:36,401
Little Richard
is doing something
766
00:36:36,581 --> 00:36:38,801
that's really innovative
and really fascinating.
767
00:36:38,971 --> 00:36:40,890
He's doing boogie-woogie
on the left hand.
768
00:36:41,060 --> 00:36:43,280
Right?
769
00:36:43,450 --> 00:36:45,150
On his right hand,
770
00:36:45,330 --> 00:36:49,370
he was influenced by hearing
the piano playing of Ike Turner.
771
00:36:49,550 --> 00:36:52,330
[piano plays]
772
00:36:54,770 --> 00:36:57,730
King: Ike Turner played on one
of the most defining tracks
773
00:36:57,900 --> 00:36:59,300
of early rock 'n' roll music,
774
00:36:59,470 --> 00:37:01,080
Jackie Brenston's "Rocket 88."
775
00:37:03,039 --> 00:37:05,819
Ike Turner's right hand,
it's really percussive.
776
00:37:07,569 --> 00:37:09,439
Little Richard
was really inspired and said,
777
00:37:09,609 --> 00:37:10,789
"I want to do that."
778
00:37:11,179 --> 00:37:13,789
But he's doing it in this, like,
raucous tempo.
779
00:37:13,959 --> 00:37:15,139
The percussion
actually had to try
780
00:37:15,309 --> 00:37:16,659
to keep up with his right hand.
781
00:37:18,489 --> 00:37:20,449
782
00:37:24,928 --> 00:37:26,108
783
00:37:34,848 --> 00:37:36,198
Of course, on top of all of this
784
00:37:36,378 --> 00:37:38,328
is Little Richard's
incredible voice, right?
785
00:37:38,508 --> 00:37:40,598
That sort of preacher,
786
00:37:40,768 --> 00:37:43,948
gravelly, hardcore sound.
787
00:37:44,118 --> 00:37:45,907
- ♪ You work it, you work it ♪
788
00:37:46,077 --> 00:37:47,997
- ♪ You can talk about me ♪
789
00:37:48,167 --> 00:37:50,127
King: You can hear
Brother Joe May,
790
00:37:50,297 --> 00:37:53,177
who Little Richard
was deeply influenced by.
791
00:37:53,917 --> 00:37:56,307
♪ And she shouted hallelujah ♪
792
00:37:56,477 --> 00:37:58,787
Hadley: You can hear Clara Ward
793
00:38:00,137 --> 00:38:02,657
as well as Marion Williams.
794
00:38:04,617 --> 00:38:06,097
♪ Ooh, yeah ♪
795
00:38:06,277 --> 00:38:08,146
Hadley: But he isn't only
796
00:38:08,316 --> 00:38:11,926
the amalgam of
these different references.
797
00:38:13,496 --> 00:38:16,896
He isn't just a collection
of things.
798
00:38:17,066 --> 00:38:20,066
There is something that he does
799
00:38:20,246 --> 00:38:23,076
that makes this gumbo
of musical experiences
800
00:38:23,246 --> 00:38:24,726
uniquely his own.
801
00:38:26,426 --> 00:38:28,296
I remember
when I played my first date,
802
00:38:28,466 --> 00:38:30,995
they had me on this tour
called the Top Ten Show.
803
00:38:31,165 --> 00:38:34,215
Ruth Brown, Fats Domino,
LaVern Baker.
804
00:38:34,645 --> 00:38:37,215
But I was at the bottom
as an added attraction.
805
00:38:38,435 --> 00:38:40,305
And when the tour was over,
806
00:38:40,475 --> 00:38:42,875
I was the one headlining.
807
00:38:43,875 --> 00:38:45,835
♪ Come on, shake it up ♪
808
00:38:46,005 --> 00:38:47,485
Vera: Nobody could follow him,
809
00:38:47,835 --> 00:38:49,575
so he had to close the shows
everywhere he played.
810
00:38:51,015 --> 00:38:52,364
Everybody was afraid of me
811
00:38:53,234 --> 00:38:54,664
because I was unpredictable.
812
00:38:54,844 --> 00:38:56,234
They didn't know
what I was going to do.
813
00:38:57,534 --> 00:38:59,234
I would go up in the balcony
of the auditorium
814
00:38:59,414 --> 00:39:00,844
and I would hide,
815
00:39:01,024 --> 00:39:02,764
and when they said
"Little Richard,"
816
00:39:02,934 --> 00:39:04,244
I would jump out the back,
and the promoter would go,
817
00:39:04,414 --> 00:39:05,934
"Oh, Lord."
818
00:39:06,114 --> 00:39:08,284
And everybody'd be hollering
and screaming.
819
00:39:08,464 --> 00:39:10,164
♪ Ready, set, go, man, go ♪
820
00:39:10,334 --> 00:39:12,074
♪ I got a gal that I love ♪
821
00:39:12,384 --> 00:39:13,384
Connor:
822
00:39:25,613 --> 00:39:28,573
Remember, in the 1950s,
there's legal segregation.
823
00:39:28,743 --> 00:39:31,613
Black kids are not able
to listen to music
824
00:39:31,793 --> 00:39:33,443
in the same spaces
as white kids.
825
00:39:34,053 --> 00:39:35,623
Black and white musicians
weren't allowed
826
00:39:35,793 --> 00:39:36,702
- to play together.
- True.
827
00:39:37,052 --> 00:39:38,922
828
00:39:48,852 --> 00:39:50,942
The white people
start leaping over the balcony,
829
00:39:51,112 --> 00:39:52,552
and they got down
with the Blacks.
830
00:39:54,462 --> 00:39:56,852
My music broke down
the walls of segregation.
831
00:39:57,032 --> 00:39:58,861
832
00:39:59,031 --> 00:40:02,081
Vera: There's something about
this music
833
00:40:02,251 --> 00:40:06,301
that made Black and white kids
want to be together.
834
00:40:06,521 --> 00:40:09,781
835
00:40:14,391 --> 00:40:15,871
There are artists
before Little Richard
836
00:40:16,051 --> 00:40:17,531
who are able to cross over.
837
00:40:17,701 --> 00:40:20,051
Fats Domino,
somebody who was also
838
00:40:20,231 --> 00:40:22,580
very much responsible
for the early rock 'n' roll,
839
00:40:22,750 --> 00:40:24,840
who was not threatening
840
00:40:25,010 --> 00:40:26,410
to a lot of young white kids.
841
00:40:27,410 --> 00:40:29,540
But Little Richard was danger.
842
00:40:29,710 --> 00:40:31,020
843
00:40:31,410 --> 00:40:33,280
King: Little Richard is somebody
who represented
844
00:40:33,460 --> 00:40:35,590
a complete upheaval
845
00:40:35,760 --> 00:40:37,720
of the existing social system.
846
00:40:39,030 --> 00:40:40,460
He was singing about sex,
847
00:40:40,640 --> 00:40:42,330
and he was singing
about graphic sex.
848
00:40:42,510 --> 00:40:43,769
At the time,
you weren't allowed
849
00:40:43,949 --> 00:40:45,599
to talk about graphic sex
850
00:40:45,769 --> 00:40:47,909
in the way that we are today
in popular music.
851
00:40:48,079 --> 00:40:49,649
And so you had to code it.
852
00:40:49,819 --> 00:40:51,559
♪ And ball tonight, ow! ♪
853
00:40:51,739 --> 00:40:54,909
I mean, "Good Golly Miss Molly,
you sure like to ball."
854
00:40:55,089 --> 00:40:58,389
I mean, I don't know what
anybody else thinks it means,
855
00:40:58,569 --> 00:40:59,659
but I knew what it meant.
856
00:41:01,269 --> 00:41:03,309
He could project sex
857
00:41:03,829 --> 00:41:06,658
without being threatening.
858
00:41:08,188 --> 00:41:09,928
All my band boys
had a makeup kit.
859
00:41:10,748 --> 00:41:11,888
Connor:
860
00:41:27,077 --> 00:41:28,377
Everybody was looking beautiful.
861
00:41:28,547 --> 00:41:30,907
Everybody was glamorous
and looking good.
862
00:41:31,077 --> 00:41:33,077
The early 20th century word
was shake.
863
00:41:33,857 --> 00:41:36,347
If you were shake, you had,
like, really good hair,
864
00:41:36,517 --> 00:41:39,037
good skin, good makeup,
you know, eyelashes, whatever.
865
00:41:39,217 --> 00:41:42,307
Like, the girls went crazy
for that, right?
866
00:41:42,477 --> 00:41:45,437
He had panties thrown at him
while he was performing.
867
00:41:46,177 --> 00:41:47,227
868
00:41:55,146 --> 00:41:56,446
869
00:41:56,626 --> 00:41:58,106
Snyder:
Here you came on Black...
870
00:41:58,276 --> 00:42:00,196
- Yes. Yes.
- ...and gay...
871
00:42:00,366 --> 00:42:01,846
- ...and talented...
Yeah.
872
00:42:02,016 --> 00:42:03,456
...and loud.
873
00:42:03,886 --> 00:42:05,156
But the one thing they wrote
about you when you came on,
874
00:42:05,326 --> 00:42:06,976
you were absolutely 100%
sure of yourself.
875
00:42:07,156 --> 00:42:08,416
That's right.
876
00:42:08,586 --> 00:42:09,896
Where did your confidence
come from?
877
00:42:10,066 --> 00:42:12,075
Well, see,
it wasn't just a gay thing.
878
00:42:12,245 --> 00:42:14,905
What it was is to be Black
879
00:42:15,075 --> 00:42:16,385
and to work for white girls,
880
00:42:16,555 --> 00:42:18,035
I had to look that way.
881
00:42:18,205 --> 00:42:20,865
If I didn't wear makeup
and look effeminate,
882
00:42:21,035 --> 00:42:22,385
I couldn't work the white clubs.
883
00:42:22,565 --> 00:42:24,125
They wouldn't let me
be with the white girls.
884
00:42:24,305 --> 00:42:26,565
- Snyder: You weren't a threat.
- Yes. I wore it all.
885
00:42:26,735 --> 00:42:29,395
From wah-wah to whoo-whoo,
I had it all on me.
886
00:42:29,565 --> 00:42:30,785
- Sometimes boo-boo.
887
00:42:30,965 --> 00:42:32,265
That's the old Richard.
888
00:42:32,435 --> 00:42:34,314
- Ain't nothing to him.
889
00:42:34,484 --> 00:42:36,314
Ain't a thing to him.
890
00:42:38,404 --> 00:42:39,664
891
00:42:40,404 --> 00:42:43,584
Intuitively, it doesn't really
quite make sense that the way
892
00:42:43,754 --> 00:42:46,364
that you would, like,
make yourself more safe
893
00:42:46,544 --> 00:42:47,974
in America of that era is by
894
00:42:48,154 --> 00:42:49,764
exaggerating
your queerness, right?
895
00:42:49,934 --> 00:42:53,024
I said, "Richard,
aren't you afraid of, uh...
896
00:42:54,334 --> 00:42:56,243
people thinking
that you're different?"
897
00:42:56,423 --> 00:42:59,333
And he said, "No. I don't give
a damn what they think."
898
00:42:59,513 --> 00:43:03,203
I know of the evil feeling
that you feel when you sing it
899
00:43:03,383 --> 00:43:04,473
and the beat.
900
00:43:04,643 --> 00:43:05,953
Man: That two-beat pattern
901
00:43:06,643 --> 00:43:09,473
is the music brought to
the United States of America
902
00:43:09,653 --> 00:43:12,913
by the Communist conspiracy
to corrupt teenagers.
903
00:43:13,083 --> 00:43:17,043
A means by which
the white man and his children
904
00:43:17,223 --> 00:43:19,262
can be driven
to the level with a Negro.
905
00:43:19,442 --> 00:43:21,442
It is obviously Negro music.
906
00:43:21,612 --> 00:43:24,492
"That red boy gonna come to town
singing that Black music
907
00:43:24,662 --> 00:43:26,492
and gonna run our children
crazy."
908
00:43:29,882 --> 00:43:32,152
I'd be afraid
for a white girl to look at me.
909
00:43:33,282 --> 00:43:37,592
This is a radical, radical time.
910
00:43:37,762 --> 00:43:39,372
This is the same moment
as Emmett Till.
911
00:43:39,551 --> 00:43:41,291
912
00:43:41,461 --> 00:43:42,591
Bunch of
white guys will follow you
913
00:43:42,771 --> 00:43:44,201
and hang you in a tree.
914
00:43:45,811 --> 00:43:48,601
Nyong'o: So what's revolutionary
915
00:43:48,771 --> 00:43:51,691
about this Black exuberance
916
00:43:51,861 --> 00:43:55,131
is this capacity
to own the right
917
00:43:55,301 --> 00:43:56,781
to be in the world
918
00:43:56,951 --> 00:44:00,221
that gets Emmett Till murdered.
919
00:44:02,480 --> 00:44:04,050
Hendryx: I remember doing shows
920
00:44:04,220 --> 00:44:06,310
where people would throw things
at us on stage.
921
00:44:07,920 --> 00:44:10,880
You were driving a lot at night
922
00:44:11,060 --> 00:44:14,010
from one town to the next,
923
00:44:14,620 --> 00:44:16,500
and you wanted to stop for gas,
924
00:44:16,670 --> 00:44:19,110
but you were not welcome.
925
00:44:20,670 --> 00:44:23,150
Being run out of restaurants
at gunpoint
926
00:44:23,330 --> 00:44:24,939
because you walked in
the wrong door.
927
00:44:26,899 --> 00:44:29,639
Nyong'o: You could get thrown
in jail for having long hair.
928
00:44:30,419 --> 00:44:32,419
It happened to Little Richard
in Texas.
929
00:44:33,639 --> 00:44:36,039
King: Richard was arrested
many times.
930
00:44:36,209 --> 00:44:37,859
I had the police
take me off stage
931
00:44:38,039 --> 00:44:39,739
in Augusta, Georgia,
a few miles from my hometown,
932
00:44:39,909 --> 00:44:41,219
and beat me with blackjacks.
933
00:44:42,999 --> 00:44:45,739
They said, "You're singing
nigger music to white kids."
934
00:44:48,218 --> 00:44:51,268
Porter: In the face of
insurmountable challenges,
935
00:44:51,438 --> 00:44:54,878
sometimes simply existing
is a revolutionary act.
936
00:44:56,618 --> 00:44:58,578
We built a hell of a highway.
937
00:44:59,488 --> 00:45:00,628
And people are still
driving on it.
938
00:45:00,798 --> 00:45:02,018
That's right.
939
00:45:02,188 --> 00:45:03,458
- And they ain't paying no toll.
- No.
940
00:45:03,628 --> 00:45:05,758
Whoo!
941
00:45:05,938 --> 00:45:08,717
This is before the height
of the civil rights movement
942
00:45:08,897 --> 00:45:10,417
in the 1960s.
943
00:45:10,587 --> 00:45:12,897
They are concerned
that the old order of the day,
944
00:45:13,067 --> 00:45:16,247
the relationships between
Black and white teenagers,
945
00:45:16,417 --> 00:45:19,167
is going to become something
that they can no longer contain.
946
00:45:23,687 --> 00:45:25,827
♪ If she walks by the men folks
get engrossed ♪
947
00:45:26,087 --> 00:45:28,437
Waters: I used to go see
all the rock 'n' roll movies.
948
00:45:29,387 --> 00:45:31,306
The Girl Can't Help It
was the very first time
949
00:45:31,476 --> 00:45:32,956
I actually saw him live,
singing.
950
00:45:33,136 --> 00:45:35,266
♪ Ready, set, go, man, go ♪
951
00:45:35,436 --> 00:45:37,316
♪ I've got a gal
that I love so ♪
952
00:45:37,486 --> 00:45:38,966
♪ I'm ready ♪
953
00:45:39,136 --> 00:45:40,876
♪ Ready, ready, Teddy
I'm ready ♪
954
00:45:41,056 --> 00:45:43,186
It made the music
even a thousand times better
955
00:45:43,356 --> 00:45:44,626
than it already was for me.
956
00:45:46,146 --> 00:45:48,536
He was gay, but I didn't
really know that then.
957
00:45:48,716 --> 00:45:50,496
I knew something was different.
958
00:45:51,236 --> 00:45:54,065
He just became part
of my identity.
959
00:45:54,715 --> 00:45:57,985
And Little Richard's mustache
I wear to this day
960
00:45:58,155 --> 00:46:01,855
for over 50 years
in a twisted tribute to him.
961
00:46:03,725 --> 00:46:06,295
And soThe Girl Can't Help It
spread the word
962
00:46:06,465 --> 00:46:08,515
of rock 'n' roll to places
963
00:46:08,685 --> 00:46:10,255
that it hadn't quite
gotten to yet.
964
00:46:11,605 --> 00:46:13,345
Jones: The film came to Britain.
965
00:46:15,524 --> 00:46:18,914
And it was so different from
anything that I'd heard or seen.
966
00:46:20,614 --> 00:46:22,134
He was giving me
more confidence
967
00:46:22,314 --> 00:46:24,224
that that's what
I wanted to do.
968
00:46:26,834 --> 00:46:29,104
Because of
the rock 'n' roll films,
969
00:46:29,274 --> 00:46:32,234
Little Richard became one of
the main characters
970
00:46:32,404 --> 00:46:33,884
in rock 'n' roll.
971
00:46:34,064 --> 00:46:36,064
You know,
there was Fats Domino,
972
00:46:36,284 --> 00:46:37,503
Chuck Berry,
973
00:46:37,973 --> 00:46:39,283
Elvis Presley
974
00:46:39,453 --> 00:46:40,853
and Jerry Lee Lewis,
975
00:46:41,373 --> 00:46:43,373
and then, of course,
Little Richard.
976
00:46:44,203 --> 00:46:45,813
You know,
it's like the big five.
977
00:46:46,203 --> 00:46:47,643
But Richard was...
978
00:46:48,203 --> 00:46:49,463
was the strongest.
979
00:46:54,513 --> 00:46:55,863
Was there a lot of sex going on?
980
00:46:56,043 --> 00:46:58,432
- Oh, yes. Oh, night and day.
981
00:46:58,602 --> 00:46:59,692
All night.
982
00:47:02,002 --> 00:47:03,912
I had all these orgies going on.
983
00:47:04,092 --> 00:47:07,262
Everybody liked to jack...
masturbate. Everybody loves to.
984
00:47:07,442 --> 00:47:09,752
Everybody liked to go to orgies.
Everybody.
985
00:47:09,922 --> 00:47:12,142
Some people wish
they never had to leave.
986
00:47:12,312 --> 00:47:14,662
You know, I don't know why
everybody said... [gasps] Oh.
987
00:47:14,882 --> 00:47:16,712
I just loved whatever came.
988
00:47:16,882 --> 00:47:18,452
You know,
I didn't refuse nothing.
989
00:47:18,712 --> 00:47:21,631
If you knocked on my door,
and I wanted more, for sure.
990
00:47:22,891 --> 00:47:25,281
Oh, she is a whupper.
991
00:47:26,151 --> 00:47:28,241
They should just keep Lee
and take Angel off.
992
00:47:28,421 --> 00:47:29,811
993
00:47:30,071 --> 00:47:32,071
Richard's fantasies
are the greatest on Earth.
994
00:47:32,861 --> 00:47:36,121
I believe that if he'd have been
a screenwriter,
995
00:47:36,291 --> 00:47:39,471
he would have
at least 9,988 films
996
00:47:39,641 --> 00:47:41,731
that would be extreme hits now.
997
00:47:43,210 --> 00:47:47,350
He said, "I want you
to meet Lee Angel."
998
00:47:47,520 --> 00:47:50,390
I said, "Do you really like her,
Richard?"
999
00:47:50,570 --> 00:47:53,220
He said, "Yeah.
She got some good stuff."
1000
00:47:53,480 --> 00:47:54,920
She's a wonderful girl.
1001
00:47:55,100 --> 00:47:56,270
You know, she's beautiful.
1002
00:47:56,440 --> 00:47:58,360
She's loving. She's kind.
1003
00:47:58,530 --> 00:48:00,490
But Angel is the girl.
She just enjoys sex.
1004
00:48:00,670 --> 00:48:01,580
And everybody does.
1005
00:48:02,320 --> 00:48:03,800
I said, "Oh."
1006
00:48:04,020 --> 00:48:06,719
"When'd you start
screwing women?"
1007
00:48:06,889 --> 00:48:08,759
Well, he slept with me.
1008
00:48:09,669 --> 00:48:11,809
And I guarantee I'm all woman.
1009
00:48:12,369 --> 00:48:14,379
How old were you
when you met Richard?
1010
00:48:14,549 --> 00:48:15,899
Sixteen.
1011
00:48:16,419 --> 00:48:19,859
I'm walking down
West Broad Street in Savannah,
1012
00:48:20,689 --> 00:48:22,819
and someone came over to me
and told me,
1013
00:48:22,989 --> 00:48:25,169
"Little Richard
wants to meet you."
1014
00:48:25,859 --> 00:48:29,298
My response was,
"Does he know I'm a girl?"
1015
00:48:30,998 --> 00:48:33,218
He always introduced me
on the stage
1016
00:48:33,918 --> 00:48:36,048
just as I was his lady,
1017
00:48:36,218 --> 00:48:38,228
and I would have to stand up.
1018
00:48:39,308 --> 00:48:41,008
He asked me to marry him.
1019
00:48:43,528 --> 00:48:44,878
I couldn't do it.
1020
00:48:46,228 --> 00:48:47,628
Seventeen.
1021
00:48:48,318 --> 00:48:50,107
First time I was on my own.
1022
00:48:51,017 --> 00:48:52,237
He knew
1023
00:48:54,107 --> 00:48:57,677
that he had
something inside of him
1024
00:48:58,807 --> 00:49:00,197
that was hard to bring out.
1025
00:49:01,597 --> 00:49:03,417
It was not going
to come out now.
1026
00:49:04,427 --> 00:49:06,467
It would come out eventually.
1027
00:49:20,746 --> 00:49:22,046
I had been a...
1028
00:49:22,226 --> 00:49:24,136
a flash of lightning
for two years.
1029
00:49:24,306 --> 00:49:25,746
In fact,
1030
00:49:25,916 --> 00:49:27,316
you could just call me
the living flame.
1031
00:49:28,356 --> 00:49:30,576
I was at the height
to make the big money.
1032
00:49:31,706 --> 00:49:35,535
We headed on this tour
going to Sydney, Australia.
1033
00:49:40,545 --> 00:49:44,245
The engines of the plane
had turned red, really red.
1034
00:49:44,805 --> 00:49:46,765
To me,
I thought the plane was on fire.
1035
00:49:47,115 --> 00:49:49,115
1036
00:49:50,555 --> 00:49:54,255
Robinson: He feels and sees that
1037
00:49:54,735 --> 00:49:57,694
angels are holding the plane up.
1038
00:49:58,824 --> 00:50:00,994
He's overcome by this vision,
1039
00:50:01,174 --> 00:50:02,914
and he's overcome by fear.
1040
00:50:04,694 --> 00:50:06,784
Then, after arriving in Sydney,
1041
00:50:07,044 --> 00:50:08,964
I was appearing there
in a stadium,
1042
00:50:09,704 --> 00:50:12,444
and this ball of fire
came over the stadium.
1043
00:50:13,664 --> 00:50:15,444
1044
00:50:15,624 --> 00:50:16,754
I've always
heard from a little boy
1045
00:50:16,924 --> 00:50:18,233
that the world was going to end
1046
00:50:18,403 --> 00:50:19,753
and it was frightening,
you know?
1047
00:50:20,933 --> 00:50:23,933
I just felt that
God was speaking to me.
1048
00:50:26,803 --> 00:50:29,243
Robinson: Later,
they say this is Sputnik.
1049
00:50:30,243 --> 00:50:31,593
But it doesn't matter.
1050
00:50:31,763 --> 00:50:33,853
Little Richard said
he saw a fireball
1051
00:50:34,033 --> 00:50:36,073
after angels were holding up
the plane, period.
1052
00:50:37,603 --> 00:50:40,862
He's like,
"I got to cut this tour short."
1053
00:50:41,032 --> 00:50:42,862
"I need to get out of here."
1054
00:50:44,042 --> 00:50:45,732
I said
"After these dates,
1055
00:50:45,912 --> 00:50:47,472
I'm going to stop singing."
1056
00:50:47,652 --> 00:50:49,222
"I'm going with the Lord."
1057
00:50:50,872 --> 00:50:52,782
One of the band boys said,
1058
00:50:52,962 --> 00:50:55,312
"If you're serious,
throw your rings in the water."
1059
00:50:56,442 --> 00:50:59,232
We got on the ferry,
and I threw them in the ocean.
1060
00:51:09,671 --> 00:51:12,331
Williams: We knew he was
a rock 'n' roll star.
1061
00:51:12,981 --> 00:51:14,761
Why would he be
coming to Oakwood?
1062
00:51:15,811 --> 00:51:18,331
Word spread he's not coming
to give a concert.
1063
00:51:18,511 --> 00:51:19,811
He's coming as a student.
1064
00:51:22,161 --> 00:51:23,601
Winslow:
Oakwood was the premiere
1065
00:51:23,770 --> 00:51:25,250
Black Seventh-day
Adventist school.
1066
00:51:26,640 --> 00:51:28,910
Very conservative.
1067
00:51:29,080 --> 00:51:29,910
I was a little boy.
1068
00:51:30,950 --> 00:51:32,910
My mother was a teacher.
1069
00:51:33,430 --> 00:51:35,910
I was old enough
to know who he was.
1070
00:51:36,090 --> 00:51:38,960
But we didn't have
rock 'n' roll on campus.
1071
00:51:39,130 --> 00:51:41,620
It was a sin
to listen to Richard's music.
1072
00:51:43,050 --> 00:51:44,310
Williams:
Shortly after he got there,
1073
00:51:44,490 --> 00:51:46,009
he gave his testimony.
1074
00:51:47,229 --> 00:51:49,059
He said he saw himself in hell.
1075
00:51:50,019 --> 00:51:52,839
He said he knew
he wasn't ready to see the Lord
1076
00:51:53,189 --> 00:51:56,199
with what he was singing
and how he was behaving.
1077
00:51:57,019 --> 00:51:58,499
He called it devil music.
1078
00:51:59,199 --> 00:52:00,589
The Lord is coming soon,
1079
00:52:00,769 --> 00:52:02,509
and I want to dedicate
my life to God.
1080
00:52:02,679 --> 00:52:04,549
And I want to study,
so I can help other people
1081
00:52:04,729 --> 00:52:07,079
that are doing wrong
where they can be saved too.
1082
00:52:07,509 --> 00:52:10,508
Williams: He actually said
if you have any of his records,
1083
00:52:10,688 --> 00:52:12,208
he would buy them back.
1084
00:52:12,388 --> 00:52:14,258
And he was going
to have a bonfire.
1085
00:52:14,998 --> 00:52:16,608
He burned the records.
1086
00:52:18,088 --> 00:52:19,438
Cut his hair.
1087
00:52:20,738 --> 00:52:23,608
We just accepted him
as a normal student.
1088
00:52:27,098 --> 00:52:29,178
Little Richard lived
in the dorm.
1089
00:52:30,137 --> 00:52:32,187
He always had on a suit jacket.
1090
00:52:32,357 --> 00:52:35,187
And he had a big Bible
that he carried with him.
1091
00:52:35,367 --> 00:52:37,237
And if you saw him coming,
1092
00:52:37,667 --> 00:52:40,587
you knew you might get stopped
to be prayed with.
1093
00:52:41,457 --> 00:52:42,287
I liked him.
1094
00:52:42,457 --> 00:52:45,157
He had a real burden
1095
00:52:45,327 --> 00:52:48,157
for the salvation of souls.
1096
00:52:48,767 --> 00:52:50,677
And he liked to tell his story.
1097
00:52:54,076 --> 00:52:56,256
"As I have repent,
you must repent."
1098
00:52:58,336 --> 00:52:59,906
Robinson: This is
kind of the beginning
1099
00:53:00,086 --> 00:53:03,696
of his period
with gospel music.
1100
00:53:04,256 --> 00:53:10,356
♪ Precious Lord ♪
1101
00:53:11,176 --> 00:53:15,835
♪ Take my hand ♪
1102
00:53:16,095 --> 00:53:20,055
Robinson: His vocal performance
is so dramatically different.
1103
00:53:21,315 --> 00:53:23,325
I want to say restrained.
1104
00:53:25,545 --> 00:53:28,325
I'm like, "You ain't even bring
the rock 'n' roll to the gospel
1105
00:53:28,505 --> 00:53:30,505
like Sister Rosetta Tharpe
was doing."
1106
00:53:33,065 --> 00:53:34,985
Maybe that was him
trying to be still.
1107
00:53:35,155 --> 00:53:37,634
♪ I'm so weak ♪
1108
00:53:37,814 --> 00:53:41,334
Java: He said that the Bible
would be his only love.
1109
00:53:42,644 --> 00:53:46,904
He was a caring, loving person,
1110
00:53:47,124 --> 00:53:49,434
and I was very proud of that.
1111
00:53:50,874 --> 00:53:53,524
Robinson: Even in the sphere
of sacred music,
1112
00:53:53,694 --> 00:53:57,224
he names an album
"The King of Gospel Singers,"
1113
00:53:57,834 --> 00:54:00,613
staking his claim
for where his voice fits
1114
00:54:00,793 --> 00:54:02,833
in the pantheon
of gospel singers.
1115
00:54:04,443 --> 00:54:06,323
Winslow: Richard met Ernestine,
1116
00:54:07,363 --> 00:54:10,673
and they got to be close
as friends.
1117
00:54:11,453 --> 00:54:13,373
And she wanted to marry him,
and he married her.
1118
00:54:19,723 --> 00:54:21,462
1119
00:54:22,382 --> 00:54:25,772
We were married at
Richard's home in Los Angeles.
1120
00:54:26,942 --> 00:54:30,172
It was a very quiet,
private service.
1121
00:54:31,342 --> 00:54:34,952
I didn't know anything
about Richard before I met him.
1122
00:54:36,262 --> 00:54:40,442
I sneaked away and listened
to some of his songs.
1123
00:54:41,612 --> 00:54:43,441
Richard was
the kind of husband that
1124
00:54:43,611 --> 00:54:47,441
most women would want
for a husband,
1125
00:54:48,051 --> 00:54:51,361
always positive, loving,
and caring.
1126
00:54:53,011 --> 00:54:55,971
Williams: I think Little Richard
wanted to do God's will,
1127
00:54:56,581 --> 00:54:59,111
but he lived a high lifestyle.
1128
00:54:59,281 --> 00:55:00,891
He had a nice home
that he bought
1129
00:55:01,071 --> 00:55:03,111
for his mother and his family,
1130
00:55:03,681 --> 00:55:05,900
and church wasn't paying him.
1131
00:55:06,070 --> 00:55:07,550
He wasn't an ordained minister.
1132
00:55:08,070 --> 00:55:09,160
He needed money.
1133
00:55:12,820 --> 00:55:16,040
Newman: I was in a band
called Sounds Incorporated.
1134
00:55:17,040 --> 00:55:18,650
We're told that
we're going on the road
1135
00:55:18,820 --> 00:55:20,350
and we're backing
Little Richard.
1136
00:55:21,090 --> 00:55:22,870
We're all saying
"This is just...
1137
00:55:23,040 --> 00:55:24,520
this is beyond belief."
1138
00:55:24,700 --> 00:55:26,999
We all figured that he'd retired
1139
00:55:27,179 --> 00:55:28,749
and we wouldn't
hear of him again.
1140
00:55:30,089 --> 00:55:31,839
All I can assume is
1141
00:55:32,009 --> 00:55:35,229
Don Arden told Richard
it was a gospel tour.
1142
00:55:35,399 --> 00:55:36,709
1143
00:55:37,319 --> 00:55:38,709
There's a rehearsal called.
1144
00:55:39,799 --> 00:55:42,719
He had a sweater on him.
I don't recognize him.
1145
00:55:43,499 --> 00:55:47,679
So we're not quite sure
what to expect the first night.
1146
00:55:48,899 --> 00:55:50,588
So the band's riffing.
1147
00:55:50,768 --> 00:55:53,248
You know, "Now, from America,
ladies and gentlemen,
1148
00:55:53,418 --> 00:55:54,898
we have Little Richard,"
1149
00:55:55,078 --> 00:55:56,858
and he's not on stage.
1150
00:55:57,028 --> 00:55:58,168
He's not there.
1151
00:55:59,078 --> 00:56:00,818
From the balcony, we hear,
1152
00:56:00,998 --> 00:56:02,778
"I am an atom bomb,"
1153
00:56:02,948 --> 00:56:05,428
with eyes wide open and a cape,
1154
00:56:06,128 --> 00:56:08,088
and he jumps off the balcony,
1155
00:56:08,258 --> 00:56:10,568
ran up to the stage, and...
1156
00:56:11,217 --> 00:56:12,787
♪ A whole lot of shakin' ♪
1157
00:56:12,957 --> 00:56:14,697
♪ A whole lot of shakin'
goin' on ♪
1158
00:56:14,877 --> 00:56:16,307
♪ Whoo ♪
1159
00:56:16,577 --> 00:56:17,927
♪ Yeah, yeah, yeah ♪
1160
00:56:18,487 --> 00:56:20,837
♪ A whole lot of shakin'
goin' on ♪
1161
00:56:21,017 --> 00:56:23,667
Newman: I was rocketed
into the fifth dimension.
1162
00:56:25,277 --> 00:56:27,057
I wasn't of this earth anymore.
1163
00:56:28,497 --> 00:56:31,237
All of a sudden,
Richard jumped off the piano,
1164
00:56:31,417 --> 00:56:34,116
lying on the floor
as if he was dead.
1165
00:56:34,286 --> 00:56:35,856
"Is there a doctor
in the house?"
1166
00:56:36,026 --> 00:56:37,856
"Is there a doctor
in the house?"
1167
00:56:40,246 --> 00:56:42,376
Richard would wake up
all of a sudden
1168
00:56:42,946 --> 00:56:45,126
and play
"Good Golly, Miss Molly."
1169
00:56:45,296 --> 00:56:47,556
♪ Good golly, Miss Molly ♪
1170
00:56:48,606 --> 00:56:50,256
♪ Sure like to ball ♪
1171
00:56:51,646 --> 00:56:53,826
Newman: Nearly every night,
it escalated
1172
00:56:53,996 --> 00:56:56,875
into a full-blown riot
in the theater.
1173
00:56:57,045 --> 00:56:58,525
1174
00:56:58,705 --> 00:56:59,965
Newman: People have wrecked
the seats.
1175
00:57:00,915 --> 00:57:02,615
1176
00:57:02,795 --> 00:57:04,795
The police dogs are called.
1177
00:57:05,095 --> 00:57:07,975
♪ Whoo!
Sure like to ball ♪
1178
00:57:08,145 --> 00:57:09,445
1179
00:57:10,015 --> 00:57:11,585
Newman: I remember coming off
of that and thinking,
1180
00:57:11,755 --> 00:57:13,195
"Now, this is rock 'n' roll."
1181
00:57:19,154 --> 00:57:20,504
1182
00:57:20,674 --> 00:57:23,374
1183
00:57:33,824 --> 00:57:35,254
1184
00:57:36,434 --> 00:57:38,954
Brian Epstein
brought me to Liverpool.
1185
00:57:40,043 --> 00:57:43,043
And when I walked in, he said,
"Richard, I got four guys."
1186
00:57:43,223 --> 00:57:46,053
"Would you mind taking a picture
with my group?"
1187
00:57:46,223 --> 00:57:47,223
1188
00:57:50,013 --> 00:57:51,363
And they was nervous.
1189
00:57:52,013 --> 00:57:54,583
He said they never met
no one famous before.
1190
00:57:57,283 --> 00:57:59,283
McCartney: Last day of school,
we used to bring our guitars,
1191
00:57:59,453 --> 00:58:01,672
and I used to stand on a desk
and do Little Richard.
1192
00:58:02,892 --> 00:58:04,202
Lennon: It's hard
for people to imagine
1193
00:58:04,372 --> 00:58:06,112
how thrilled
the four of us were.
1194
00:58:06,722 --> 00:58:09,552
We were just almost paralyzed
with adoration.
1195
00:58:10,382 --> 00:58:11,722
They had never made a record.
1196
00:58:11,902 --> 00:58:13,382
Didn't nobody know them
but their mothers.
1197
00:58:14,382 --> 00:58:17,562
I took them with me to Hamburg,
Germany, to the Star Club.
1198
00:58:17,732 --> 00:58:20,172
Newman: That place was magical.
1199
00:58:20,392 --> 00:58:22,432
Wildness, debauchery,
if you wanted it.
1200
00:58:23,392 --> 00:58:25,871
Richard just absolutely
makes out.
1201
00:58:26,041 --> 00:58:27,571
Leather pants,
1202
00:58:27,741 --> 00:58:29,791
male stripper gear he had.
1203
00:58:30,921 --> 00:58:33,091
McCartney: Little Richard's
organist was Billy Preston.
1204
00:58:33,961 --> 00:58:35,531
One night, George said,
"Well, come on out here
1205
00:58:35,711 --> 00:58:37,101
and play
the organ with us, you know?"
1206
00:58:38,361 --> 00:58:40,271
I said no, 'cause Little Richard
would get mad, you know,
1207
00:58:40,451 --> 00:58:41,671
because he's the star.
1208
00:58:42,541 --> 00:58:43,891
McCartney: Hamburg,
that was the real time
1209
00:58:44,061 --> 00:58:45,321
we got to know Little Richard.
1210
00:58:45,890 --> 00:58:47,630
We used to say,
"Is it true you threw
1211
00:58:47,800 --> 00:58:49,720
all your rings off the bridge?"
1212
00:58:49,890 --> 00:58:51,940
[imitates Little Richard] "Well,
of course it's true, child."
1213
00:58:52,500 --> 00:58:54,070
And we'd just sit there
for hours,
1214
00:58:54,250 --> 00:58:56,550
like, kind of disciples
in the dressing room.
1215
00:58:57,200 --> 00:58:59,510
Newman: I'd see Paul
on the side of the stage
1216
00:58:59,690 --> 00:59:01,560
more than the rest of the band.
1217
00:59:02,690 --> 00:59:05,260
All my screaming numbers
were to do with him.
1218
00:59:06,170 --> 00:59:08,259
Paul was the one
that wanted to do the hollers.
1219
00:59:08,909 --> 00:59:11,519
I said, "Whoo,"
he would say, "Ooh, ooh."
1220
00:59:11,699 --> 00:59:13,919
"Whoo, ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh."
1221
00:59:14,089 --> 00:59:15,659
Then next thing you know...
"Whoo!"
1222
00:59:17,919 --> 00:59:20,489
1223
00:59:20,659 --> 00:59:22,099
Jagger:
It was one of my first tours,
1224
00:59:22,799 --> 00:59:25,669
and we were opening
for Little Richard.
1225
00:59:26,409 --> 00:59:27,759
We were basically a cover band.
1226
00:59:27,929 --> 00:59:29,149
You know,
we hadn't written much.
1227
00:59:29,319 --> 00:59:31,668
I would be by
the side of the stage,
1228
00:59:31,848 --> 00:59:33,148
like, every night to watch him.
1229
00:59:35,458 --> 00:59:37,978
English bands,
they were very static.
1230
00:59:40,028 --> 00:59:41,418
Watching Richard, see,
1231
00:59:41,598 --> 00:59:42,948
you don't have to stand there.
1232
00:59:43,118 --> 00:59:44,468
You use the whole stage.
1233
00:59:46,078 --> 00:59:47,988
Richard would work
that audience,
1234
00:59:48,168 --> 00:59:50,388
get them up
out of their seats,
1235
00:59:50,558 --> 00:59:52,827
swaying, shouting,
waving their arms.
1236
00:59:52,997 --> 00:59:54,907
- Well, all right!
- Audience: All right.
1237
00:59:55,087 --> 00:59:56,607
Jagger:
Calling and responding stuff.
1238
00:59:56,787 --> 00:59:58,047
Audience: All right!
1239
00:59:58,827 --> 01:00:01,437
Thirty dates, so I saw
Little Richard 30 times,
1240
01:00:01,617 --> 01:00:02,707
you know what I mean?
1241
01:00:04,577 --> 01:00:08,057
Later on, I realized
he was, like, doing church
1242
01:00:08,227 --> 01:00:10,407
in a theater in
northern England, basically.
1243
01:00:10,577 --> 01:00:11,757
1244
01:00:15,536 --> 01:00:17,066
1245
01:00:17,236 --> 01:00:18,756
We'd like to finish up
with Little Richard's
1246
01:00:18,936 --> 01:00:20,236
"Long Tall Sally."
1247
01:00:20,416 --> 01:00:22,416
1248
01:00:22,586 --> 01:00:24,546
♪ Gonna tell Aunt Mary ♪
1249
01:00:24,806 --> 01:00:26,416
♪ 'Bout Uncle John ♪
1250
01:00:26,726 --> 01:00:28,466
♪ He claim he has the misery,
but he's havin' a lot of fun ♪
1251
01:00:28,636 --> 01:00:31,996
♪ Oh, baby, yeah, my baby ♪
1252
01:00:32,256 --> 01:00:34,206
♪ Whoo ♪
1253
01:00:34,386 --> 01:00:35,866
♪ Baby ♪
1254
01:00:36,036 --> 01:00:38,735
♪ Some fun tonight, yeah ♪
1255
01:00:39,735 --> 01:00:42,435
1256
01:00:42,605 --> 01:00:44,395
1257
01:00:44,955 --> 01:00:46,305
King:
Suddenly you had Black artists
1258
01:00:46,485 --> 01:00:48,095
who were displaced
from the charts.
1259
01:00:49,525 --> 01:00:51,665
The innovations that they
have brought have been stylized
1260
01:00:51,835 --> 01:00:54,145
and adopted by others who...
1261
01:00:54,315 --> 01:00:56,235
♪ Well, long, tall Sally ♪
1262
01:00:56,405 --> 01:00:59,014
♪ She's built for speed,
she got everything ♪
1263
01:00:59,624 --> 01:01:01,884
King: ...generate way more
success than they are able to.
1264
01:01:02,064 --> 01:01:02,974
♪ Yeah ♪
1265
01:01:05,064 --> 01:01:07,594
King: In America,
Little Richard is
1266
01:01:07,764 --> 01:01:11,594
nowhere near
where he was in the mid-1950s.
1267
01:01:11,764 --> 01:01:13,984
Hadley: This happens to a lot
of Black artists,
1268
01:01:14,164 --> 01:01:17,164
going back to teenagers
as fickle consumers.
1269
01:01:18,294 --> 01:01:21,513
We want fresh deliverers
1270
01:01:22,603 --> 01:01:24,733
of the innovation.
1271
01:01:28,223 --> 01:01:29,483
Hey, Richard. Welcome.
1272
01:01:29,653 --> 01:01:30,963
1273
01:01:33,223 --> 01:01:36,573
1274
01:01:37,703 --> 01:01:40,363
You and Chuck have kind of
taken England by storm.
1275
01:01:40,533 --> 01:01:43,062
How do you feel about other
people borrowing your material?
1276
01:01:43,672 --> 01:01:45,752
Well, Dick, I must be truthful.
1277
01:01:45,932 --> 01:01:47,282
I am very grateful to know
1278
01:01:47,452 --> 01:01:50,452
that my material
is the type of material
1279
01:01:50,632 --> 01:01:52,982
that the entertainers today
would like to use.
1280
01:01:54,152 --> 01:01:56,162
Vera: He had
a good body of work.
1281
01:01:56,332 --> 01:01:59,512
He had graduated to the level
of show business where
1282
01:02:00,552 --> 01:02:02,082
you don't need a hit record
1283
01:02:03,122 --> 01:02:04,602
to continue to work.
1284
01:02:04,861 --> 01:02:06,951
Want everybody
to sing back with me...
1285
01:02:07,121 --> 01:02:09,261
♪ Wop bop a loo bop
a lop bom bom ♪
1286
01:02:09,431 --> 01:02:11,431
1287
01:02:11,611 --> 01:02:13,651
King: He and Ernestine
are divorced,
1288
01:02:13,831 --> 01:02:15,741
and he was back
to his old lifestyle.
1289
01:02:16,311 --> 01:02:17,701
He called up Bumps and says,
1290
01:02:17,961 --> 01:02:19,481
"I want to change my image."
1291
01:02:19,661 --> 01:02:21,921
"I want to come out
loud and gaudy
1292
01:02:22,441 --> 01:02:23,751
as the living flame."
1293
01:02:25,231 --> 01:02:27,970
Winslow: We had a steamer trunk
full of these outfits.
1294
01:02:29,450 --> 01:02:32,500
Tassels and flamboyant,
pretty material.
1295
01:02:32,670 --> 01:02:34,060
1296
01:02:34,240 --> 01:02:35,630
Winslow: And we played
with everybody.
1297
01:02:36,280 --> 01:02:38,720
1298
01:02:39,760 --> 01:02:42,810
But no matter where we went,
Richard stole the show.
1299
01:02:44,120 --> 01:02:46,420
One time in Atlantic City,
1300
01:02:46,770 --> 01:02:49,909
Janis Joplin
was killing the audience.
1301
01:02:50,079 --> 01:02:53,739
She had gotten about
seven standing ovations,
1302
01:02:53,909 --> 01:02:56,169
and she literally passed out.
1303
01:02:56,349 --> 01:02:58,739
And I'm standing there saying,
"Man, Richard's in trouble."
1304
01:02:58,909 --> 01:03:01,089
Richard told me,
"Get back in the limousine."
1305
01:03:01,259 --> 01:03:04,399
"Go back to the hotel
and bring me my mirror suit."
1306
01:03:05,359 --> 01:03:06,699
They cut off all the lights,
1307
01:03:06,879 --> 01:03:09,009
they put the spotlight on him,
1308
01:03:09,189 --> 01:03:11,878
and he spun around
like a glass ball.
1309
01:03:12,318 --> 01:03:14,498
And those lights went
everywhere.
1310
01:03:14,668 --> 01:03:17,018
1311
01:03:17,588 --> 01:03:20,628
1312
01:03:24,418 --> 01:03:27,028
Winslow: And Janis Joplin,
I can still see her face.
1313
01:03:27,248 --> 01:03:29,028
And she said, "Oh, my God."
1314
01:03:29,948 --> 01:03:31,508
Richard told all of them.
1315
01:03:32,598 --> 01:03:33,727
Let it all hang out...
1316
01:03:33,907 --> 01:03:35,077
1317
01:03:35,257 --> 01:03:36,817
with
the beautiful Little Richard
1318
01:03:36,997 --> 01:03:38,907
from down in Macon, Georgia.
1319
01:03:39,997 --> 01:03:41,347
I want you all to know
1320
01:03:41,517 --> 01:03:44,387
that I am
the king of rock 'n' roll.
1321
01:03:44,567 --> 01:03:45,607
1322
01:03:45,867 --> 01:03:47,437
♪ Lucille ♪
1323
01:03:48,137 --> 01:03:49,917
♪ Baby, satisfy my heart ♪
1324
01:03:52,047 --> 01:03:54,357
♪ Lucille ♪
1325
01:03:54,707 --> 01:03:57,226
♪ Baby, satisfy my heart ♪
1326
01:03:58,576 --> 01:04:00,886
♪ I played for it, baby ♪
1327
01:04:01,056 --> 01:04:03,066
♪ And gave you such
a wonderful start ♪
1328
01:04:03,236 --> 01:04:04,846
♪ Aaah! ♪
1329
01:04:06,416 --> 01:04:08,636
Jagger: Little Richard was
the first thing I remember,
1330
01:04:09,546 --> 01:04:10,936
as far as rock 'n' roll
was concerned.
1331
01:04:20,385 --> 01:04:21,775
1332
01:04:24,955 --> 01:04:27,735
Winslow: One time,
Elvis came backstage,
1333
01:04:27,915 --> 01:04:29,655
and Elvis said "Little Richard,
1334
01:04:29,825 --> 01:04:31,135
don't you ever worry
about anything."
1335
01:04:32,695 --> 01:04:35,135
♪ Please don't
leave it alone, yeah ♪
1336
01:04:35,835 --> 01:04:37,925
Winslow: "You will always be
1337
01:04:38,095 --> 01:04:40,054
the true king of
rock 'n' roll."
1338
01:04:40,794 --> 01:04:43,014
1339
01:04:49,414 --> 01:04:52,244
Why is it, Richard,
after 26 years in the business,
1340
01:04:52,414 --> 01:04:53,894
you're as big
if not bigger than ever?
1341
01:04:54,064 --> 01:04:55,544
What's the secret to success?
1342
01:04:55,724 --> 01:04:58,944
I think it's because
I've been really doing it.
1343
01:04:59,764 --> 01:05:02,033
You know, the Bible says
you shall know the truth,
1344
01:05:02,203 --> 01:05:03,293
and the truth
shall make you free.
1345
01:05:03,463 --> 01:05:04,463
I've been free.
1346
01:05:04,643 --> 01:05:07,423
1347
01:05:07,603 --> 01:05:09,433
I get beautiful and beautiful
every day.
1348
01:05:09,603 --> 01:05:10,733
1349
01:05:10,913 --> 01:05:12,083
- Shut up.
1350
01:05:12,263 --> 01:05:13,733
Look at the beauty.
How you doing?
1351
01:05:13,913 --> 01:05:15,693
- Shut up.
1352
01:05:15,873 --> 01:05:18,133
Little Richard popularized
the phrase "Shut up."
1353
01:05:18,303 --> 01:05:20,793
The first time I said that,
I was in Las Vegas.
1354
01:05:20,963 --> 01:05:22,353
They didn't like the way I look.
1355
01:05:23,013 --> 01:05:24,832
You know, they said, "We don't
want this man on our stage."
1356
01:05:25,012 --> 01:05:26,792
I didn't have on no suit,
no tie.
1357
01:05:26,972 --> 01:05:28,792
And all this beauty
was just shining forth.
1358
01:05:28,972 --> 01:05:30,102
1359
01:05:30,272 --> 01:05:31,452
- Shut up.
1360
01:05:31,622 --> 01:05:33,492
People accept it from me
for some reason.
1361
01:05:33,672 --> 01:05:35,412
You know,
I travel all over the world,
1362
01:05:35,582 --> 01:05:37,892
and I think they can look at me
and see that I'm a love child.
1363
01:05:38,062 --> 01:05:39,802
1364
01:05:39,982 --> 01:05:41,412
Host: You went into
the ministry, didn't...
1365
01:05:41,592 --> 01:05:42,592
1366
01:05:43,502 --> 01:05:45,771
Nyong'o: I don't think
you could imagine
1367
01:05:45,941 --> 01:05:47,731
almost any other rock star
1368
01:05:47,901 --> 01:05:49,421
being able to get away with
"Shut up."
1369
01:05:50,731 --> 01:05:52,471
King: Anybody looking
at Little Richard
1370
01:05:52,771 --> 01:05:54,651
in the throes of his career
1371
01:05:54,821 --> 01:05:57,561
could tell you that this man
was definitely not straight.
1372
01:05:58,521 --> 01:06:01,091
He was certainly queer
in all of the senses
1373
01:06:01,261 --> 01:06:02,611
of what that term means.
1374
01:06:03,831 --> 01:06:06,221
But he rarely spoke
about it openly.
1375
01:06:07,531 --> 01:06:10,180
And that was where
the complication came.
1376
01:06:10,750 --> 01:06:12,100
Winslow:
I'll be honest with you,
1377
01:06:12,270 --> 01:06:13,970
there were times I went
and slept in the bathtub
1378
01:06:14,140 --> 01:06:16,490
'cause the rest of the suite
was full of naked people.
1379
01:06:17,410 --> 01:06:18,710
He'd be sitting there
with the Bible
1380
01:06:18,890 --> 01:06:20,190
right there beside him.
1381
01:06:20,370 --> 01:06:21,850
And every now and then,
he'd quote us.
1382
01:06:23,150 --> 01:06:25,110
We had prayer every day.
1383
01:06:25,810 --> 01:06:27,240
Jagger: If you have that
drummed into you
1384
01:06:27,420 --> 01:06:28,550
since you were a child,
1385
01:06:29,160 --> 01:06:31,329
secular music,
that's the devil's music,
1386
01:06:31,809 --> 01:06:34,639
it can't be much fun
for the people involved in it
1387
01:06:34,819 --> 01:06:37,779
like Richard,
like Sister Rosetta Tharpe.
1388
01:06:38,989 --> 01:06:41,259
Winslow: Everybody
was into the excess.
1389
01:06:41,429 --> 01:06:43,219
1390
01:06:43,389 --> 01:06:45,479
It got so hectic
during concerts
1391
01:06:45,649 --> 01:06:48,259
and television
and every other thing.
1392
01:06:48,439 --> 01:06:51,269
1393
01:06:51,439 --> 01:06:52,918
One day,
I was getting ready
1394
01:06:53,098 --> 01:06:54,918
to go on the stage,
and I was so tired.
1395
01:06:57,488 --> 01:07:00,448
And a friend of mine
introduced me to cocaine.
1396
01:07:00,618 --> 01:07:01,968
1397
01:07:02,228 --> 01:07:05,148
'73 and '74, they were coming
to my room
1398
01:07:05,318 --> 01:07:08,018
asking for money
that I couldn't account for.
1399
01:07:08,278 --> 01:07:09,808
1400
01:07:09,978 --> 01:07:11,238
Blackwell: And I knew
where it was going.
1401
01:07:12,238 --> 01:07:14,247
I didn't stick around much
after that.
1402
01:07:16,677 --> 01:07:18,417
I was just
doing everything.
1403
01:07:19,157 --> 01:07:21,467
PCP, cocaine, heroin.
1404
01:07:23,167 --> 01:07:25,427
He just wasn't the person
I knew anymore.
1405
01:07:28,387 --> 01:07:30,127
1406
01:07:30,307 --> 01:07:32,347
One night I was
appearing at Magic Mountains,
1407
01:07:32,527 --> 01:07:34,697
and a friend of mine
called to come to see me.
1408
01:07:34,877 --> 01:07:37,746
He was 21 years old.
He never did arrive.
1409
01:07:37,916 --> 01:07:40,786
He had gotten shot.
Later on that night, he died.
1410
01:07:41,746 --> 01:07:43,576
I had another friend of mine
that I went to his house
1411
01:07:43,746 --> 01:07:45,836
to get some cocaine.
He fell dead.
1412
01:07:46,016 --> 01:07:47,796
Another friend of mine,
some fellows
1413
01:07:47,976 --> 01:07:49,716
put in a trunk and cut him up
with a butcher knife.
1414
01:07:51,066 --> 01:07:54,026
My brother Tony said, "Richard,
I want to borrow some money."
1415
01:07:54,196 --> 01:07:56,026
And I had an engagement
in Miami, Florida.
1416
01:07:56,196 --> 01:07:58,286
I said, "Tony, when I get back,
I'll let you have it."
1417
01:07:59,465 --> 01:08:00,985
When I got back,
1418
01:08:01,155 --> 01:08:03,075
instead of going with Tony,
I met a man.
1419
01:08:03,245 --> 01:08:04,635
We were at the hotel
to have a party.
1420
01:08:05,645 --> 01:08:07,555
The next morning, somebody
pushed a note up under my door
1421
01:08:07,725 --> 01:08:09,035
saying, "Your brother's dead."
1422
01:08:09,945 --> 01:08:11,825
1423
01:08:15,045 --> 01:08:16,655
I tell you,
you talk about rock bottom,
1424
01:08:16,825 --> 01:08:19,175
I've been below the rocks
where it was no bottom.
1425
01:08:21,784 --> 01:08:23,914
God is talking to me
through my brother's death
1426
01:08:24,094 --> 01:08:26,224
and all of my friends
that died right in a row.
1427
01:08:28,184 --> 01:08:29,574
Oh, God.
1428
01:08:29,754 --> 01:08:32,014
Lord, please help me.
Please save me.
1429
01:08:32,184 --> 01:08:33,974
1430
01:08:34,234 --> 01:08:39,504
♪ Uh-huh, it's me ♪
1431
01:08:42,024 --> 01:08:45,243
♪ It's me, oh, Lord ♪
1432
01:08:45,503 --> 01:08:47,463
♪ I am standing... ♪
1433
01:08:47,633 --> 01:08:49,683
It started me
to thinking more seriously
1434
01:08:49,853 --> 01:08:51,513
about my life
than I've ever thought.
1435
01:08:51,683 --> 01:08:56,903
♪ Oh, I'm standing
in the need of prayer ♪
1436
01:08:58,213 --> 01:09:01,173
♪ Not my mother... ♪
1437
01:09:01,343 --> 01:09:04,093
I opened
my Bible to Mark 8:36-37,
1438
01:09:04,263 --> 01:09:06,262
said, "For what shall
it profit a man,
1439
01:09:06,442 --> 01:09:08,702
if he should gain
the whole world,
1440
01:09:08,872 --> 01:09:10,132
and lose his own soul?"
1441
01:09:10,962 --> 01:09:13,402
♪ But it's me ♪
1442
01:09:13,572 --> 01:09:17,322
♪ Oh, oh, Lord, yeah ♪
1443
01:09:17,492 --> 01:09:24,112
♪ I am standing
in the need of prayer ♪
1444
01:09:25,152 --> 01:09:26,981
The only rock
I've got now is the rock,
1445
01:09:27,151 --> 01:09:28,501
Christ Jesus.
1446
01:09:29,631 --> 01:09:31,031
I just let it all go.
1447
01:09:37,161 --> 01:09:39,381
1448
01:09:44,391 --> 01:09:49,440
♪ Oh, that beautiful city ♪
1449
01:09:50,740 --> 01:09:55,220
♪ Where Jesus is waiting ♪
1450
01:09:55,400 --> 01:09:57,530
I said, "Well, Lord,
can I sing rock 'n' roll
1451
01:09:57,700 --> 01:09:58,970
and do both of them?"
1452
01:09:59,530 --> 01:10:02,490
God says, "You've got to be
all for me, or let me go."
1453
01:10:02,670 --> 01:10:04,930
When Tony died,
it really affected Richard.
1454
01:10:05,710 --> 01:10:07,190
He didn't want to be
one of those
1455
01:10:07,370 --> 01:10:09,630
who would die and burn in hell.
1456
01:10:09,800 --> 01:10:12,149
That's the way we were taught.
1457
01:10:12,329 --> 01:10:13,939
I'm just so glad
that God was able
1458
01:10:14,109 --> 01:10:15,459
to clean me up
and wash me up.
1459
01:10:15,639 --> 01:10:17,029
And thank you, Lord.
1460
01:10:17,419 --> 01:10:19,809
I'm not gay now. But, you know,
I was gay all my life.
1461
01:10:19,989 --> 01:10:22,029
I believe I was one of the first
gay people to come out.
1462
01:10:22,209 --> 01:10:25,949
But God let me know that he made
Adam to be with Eve, not Steve.
1463
01:10:26,209 --> 01:10:28,429
1464
01:10:28,599 --> 01:10:30,949
Oh, God, how can you save me?
I'm homosexual.
1465
01:10:31,129 --> 01:10:33,039
Oh, God.
I'm not just a dope addict.
1466
01:10:33,218 --> 01:10:35,308
I'm unnatural. I like men.
1467
01:10:36,828 --> 01:10:39,398
Not only did he take me
from dope...
1468
01:10:39,568 --> 01:10:41,528
King:
Richard continued his tour,
1469
01:10:41,698 --> 01:10:43,618
and he's renouncing
his queerness
1470
01:10:43,788 --> 01:10:45,528
even more fervently
than before.
1471
01:10:45,708 --> 01:10:47,838
He changed me
from homosexuality.
1472
01:10:49,098 --> 01:10:51,058
There's harm to communities
1473
01:10:51,238 --> 01:10:55,277
to have somebody speaking
on a public stage in that way.
1474
01:10:55,457 --> 01:11:00,897
I feel he betrayed gay people
by saying he's not.
1475
01:11:01,067 --> 01:11:02,987
But I do understand.
1476
01:11:03,767 --> 01:11:06,117
You're not strong enough
to take it.
1477
01:11:07,027 --> 01:11:08,597
I understand that.
1478
01:11:08,857 --> 01:11:11,557
Especially a person
like Little Richard,
1479
01:11:11,727 --> 01:11:15,557
who had so much to hold.
1480
01:11:16,737 --> 01:11:19,046
♪ As I look around ♪
1481
01:11:19,736 --> 01:11:21,606
♪ I can see ♪
1482
01:11:22,566 --> 01:11:24,306
♪ So many people ♪
1483
01:11:24,486 --> 01:11:28,006
King: When I hear his passionate
singing at this time,
1484
01:11:28,186 --> 01:11:30,096
especially at the MDA telethon,
1485
01:11:31,186 --> 01:11:34,796
it's hard to tell how much
is running towards God
1486
01:11:34,976 --> 01:11:37,326
versus running away
from himself.
1487
01:11:37,496 --> 01:11:39,975
♪ But I realize ♪
1488
01:11:40,495 --> 01:11:43,105
♪ That I ♪
1489
01:11:43,285 --> 01:11:45,855
♪ Should be grateful ♪
1490
01:11:46,025 --> 01:11:47,935
♪ Oh, so grateful ♪
1491
01:11:48,725 --> 01:11:50,595
King: I think of
how Little Richard fared
1492
01:11:50,765 --> 01:11:52,035
as a young person.
1493
01:11:52,555 --> 01:11:55,425
As a kid who came
from a church family
1494
01:11:55,995 --> 01:12:00,125
who was Black and queer
and femme and disabled,
1495
01:12:00,295 --> 01:12:03,474
who'd been bullied
by not only other kids,
1496
01:12:03,654 --> 01:12:05,604
but also his father.
1497
01:12:06,344 --> 01:12:08,264
There's a lot of violence
that attends
1498
01:12:08,434 --> 01:12:10,914
trying to live a queer life.
1499
01:12:11,094 --> 01:12:13,094
Here's the one and only
Little Richard.
1500
01:12:13,264 --> 01:12:14,924
1501
01:12:17,964 --> 01:12:21,364
Newman: I guess he held himself
responsible for
1502
01:12:21,534 --> 01:12:24,063
the type of guys
that he figured that he brought
1503
01:12:24,283 --> 01:12:26,063
to the world, and yet,
1504
01:12:27,323 --> 01:12:29,373
what he brought us was freedom.
1505
01:12:29,543 --> 01:12:30,893
You ain't supposed
to hide nothing.
1506
01:12:31,063 --> 01:12:33,503
You got it, God gave it,
show it to the world.
1507
01:12:33,683 --> 01:12:35,293
No, I don't want to hide.
I love...
1508
01:12:35,463 --> 01:12:38,943
He was very, very good
at liberating other people
1509
01:12:39,123 --> 01:12:40,293
through his example.
1510
01:12:40,993 --> 01:12:42,953
He was not good at
liberating himself.
1511
01:12:43,123 --> 01:12:45,213
♪ I thank God ♪
1512
01:12:45,383 --> 01:12:50,912
♪ For all...
For all that He gave ♪
1513
01:12:51,082 --> 01:12:53,522
♪ That my God gave to me ♪
1514
01:12:53,702 --> 01:12:55,832
♪ There is someone ♪
1515
01:12:56,442 --> 01:13:03,052
♪ Worse off than I am ♪
1516
01:13:04,532 --> 01:13:05,622
Thank you, Jesus.
1517
01:13:05,802 --> 01:13:08,361
1518
01:13:17,111 --> 01:13:20,551
This Holy Bible is something
that they can treasure
1519
01:13:20,721 --> 01:13:22,731
and keep
throughout the years.
1520
01:13:22,901 --> 01:13:24,161
This is a beautiful Bible
1521
01:13:24,341 --> 01:13:26,861
and a wonderful Bible,
and it is yours.
1522
01:13:27,031 --> 01:13:28,431
At that time,
you were selling Bibles.
1523
01:13:28,601 --> 01:13:31,560
That's right,
and making $150 a week.
1524
01:13:32,820 --> 01:13:34,610
Winslow: He was doing
big church events.
1525
01:13:34,780 --> 01:13:36,740
And he was doing gospel shows.
1526
01:13:36,910 --> 01:13:38,310
I'm through
with rock 'n' roll
1527
01:13:38,480 --> 01:13:40,050
as far as me being a performer.
1528
01:13:41,090 --> 01:13:42,960
But it wasn't paying him
very well.
1529
01:13:43,700 --> 01:13:46,230
I looked around
and didn't have any money.
1530
01:13:47,400 --> 01:13:49,710
The record companies
paid me nothing, you know.
1531
01:13:49,880 --> 01:13:51,880
- Nobody had paid me a dime.
- Host: All those hits?
1532
01:13:52,059 --> 01:13:53,189
All those hits.
1533
01:13:53,409 --> 01:13:55,059
1534
01:13:55,279 --> 01:13:56,629
Winslow: Richard went down there
on Hollywood Boulevard
1535
01:13:56,799 --> 01:13:58,059
and picketed.
1536
01:13:58,409 --> 01:13:59,719
Famous Little Richard did that?
1537
01:13:59,889 --> 01:14:00,889
Famous Little Richard
1538
01:14:01,069 --> 01:14:02,549
trying to get that famous money
1539
01:14:02,849 --> 01:14:04,899
that he made so many years ago
that he's never seen.
1540
01:14:05,069 --> 01:14:06,679
Richard really wanted
to make money,
1541
01:14:06,859 --> 01:14:08,809
so that he could help
take care of his mother
1542
01:14:08,989 --> 01:14:10,599
and his brothers and sisters.
1543
01:14:10,769 --> 01:14:12,299
What were you doing wrong?
1544
01:14:12,469 --> 01:14:14,648
I didn't do nothing wrong.
They were just crooks.
1545
01:14:14,818 --> 01:14:17,688
They thought I was a little
Black fool from Macon, Georgia.
1546
01:14:19,258 --> 01:14:22,128
Vera: You have to remember that
Richard left Specialty Records
1547
01:14:22,308 --> 01:14:25,048
eighteen months
into a three-year contract.
1548
01:14:26,178 --> 01:14:28,748
Art Rupe said,
"There's a price to be paid."
1549
01:14:29,178 --> 01:14:32,358
"You forego any and all
future royalties."
1550
01:14:33,058 --> 01:14:36,487
So Richard never received
a penny after a time
1551
01:14:36,667 --> 01:14:38,797
from either his songs
or his recordings.
1552
01:14:40,187 --> 01:14:42,147
It was egregiously unfair.
1553
01:14:44,847 --> 01:14:46,637
I saw
all my friends on the hill
1554
01:14:46,807 --> 01:14:48,067
and I was still in the valley.
1555
01:14:49,197 --> 01:14:50,597
And it bothered me.
1556
01:14:54,287 --> 01:14:57,247
Hervey: Thirty years
after Little Richard breaks,
1557
01:14:57,817 --> 01:14:59,946
Black entertainers
were still being marginalized.
1558
01:15:00,166 --> 01:15:01,996
1559
01:15:02,956 --> 01:15:04,776
Hervey: MTV in 1981,
1560
01:15:05,516 --> 01:15:07,126
twenty-four hours of music.
1561
01:15:07,306 --> 01:15:08,786
And there are no Blacks on it.
1562
01:15:10,436 --> 01:15:12,306
King:
He didn't even get a Grammy
1563
01:15:12,486 --> 01:15:14,966
for his actual recordings
or his performances.
1564
01:15:16,526 --> 01:15:17,926
I'm an innovator.
1565
01:15:18,276 --> 01:15:19,666
I'm the creator.
I'm the king of rock 'n' roll.
1566
01:15:22,015 --> 01:15:23,795
When I came along,
Elvis wasn't even out.
1567
01:15:24,845 --> 01:15:27,235
Elvis has never written
a song in his life.
1568
01:15:28,585 --> 01:15:30,845
He was white. I was Black.
1569
01:15:33,155 --> 01:15:34,855
Winslow:
That struggle's hard because,
1570
01:15:35,025 --> 01:15:37,075
you know, a lot of times
he might have felt that
1571
01:15:37,245 --> 01:15:38,635
he had to prove himself.
1572
01:15:41,425 --> 01:15:44,254
There are many Black artists
that helped build the building.
1573
01:15:44,424 --> 01:15:46,344
I'm just the architect.
1574
01:15:46,514 --> 01:15:48,434
Michael was inspired by me,
Prince.
1575
01:15:48,604 --> 01:15:51,214
James Brown, I discovered him.
He was my vocalist.
1576
01:15:51,394 --> 01:15:52,914
Jimi Hendrix
was my guitar player.
1577
01:15:53,084 --> 01:15:55,564
The Beatles. I love you, Paul.
Hello, Linda.
1578
01:15:55,744 --> 01:15:58,224
And David Bowie says
that I was his inspiration.
1579
01:15:59,964 --> 01:16:02,274
Rodgers: David Bowie said to me,
1580
01:16:02,444 --> 01:16:05,403
"I want my new album
to sound like this."
1581
01:16:06,053 --> 01:16:07,843
And it was a picture
of Little Richard.
1582
01:16:08,103 --> 01:16:09,933
♪ Never gonna fall for ♪
1583
01:16:10,883 --> 01:16:12,933
Rodgers:
He idolized Little Richard.
1584
01:16:14,583 --> 01:16:16,543
I never worked with an artist
1585
01:16:16,723 --> 01:16:19,853
that sort of let another artist
1586
01:16:20,023 --> 01:16:22,113
define what we
were going to do.
1587
01:16:23,333 --> 01:16:26,942
As a Black man, I knew
that there was only one lane
1588
01:16:27,122 --> 01:16:31,252
I could really drive down
and get commercial success.
1589
01:16:31,432 --> 01:16:33,602
David could do anything
he wanted to do.
1590
01:16:33,782 --> 01:16:35,262
1591
01:16:35,652 --> 01:16:40,262
Hervey: Richard's struggle to me
was always unrealistic.
1592
01:16:41,702 --> 01:16:44,742
Society was never
going to accept him.
1593
01:16:44,922 --> 01:16:47,702
He was gay. He was Black.
1594
01:16:48,362 --> 01:16:51,881
He either wouldn't accept it
or he was afraid to accept it,
1595
01:16:52,051 --> 01:16:54,231
or he thought
that he could overcome it.
1596
01:16:58,451 --> 01:17:01,671
He asked me to manage him
and I thought,
1597
01:17:01,851 --> 01:17:03,981
"God, you know, it'd be great
to be responsible
1598
01:17:04,151 --> 01:17:06,071
for reviving his career."
1599
01:17:06,331 --> 01:17:09,031
♪ Didn't it rain, children ♪
1600
01:17:09,201 --> 01:17:11,940
♪ Talkin' about rain
Oh, my Lord ♪
1601
01:17:12,120 --> 01:17:13,510
Hervey: He didn't do his hits.
1602
01:17:14,380 --> 01:17:15,990
He would do like
a rock 'n' roll version
1603
01:17:16,170 --> 01:17:18,250
of some of his gospel records.
1604
01:17:19,210 --> 01:17:20,780
"The Life and Times
of Little Richard."
1605
01:17:20,950 --> 01:17:22,650
"The Quasar of Rock."
1606
01:17:23,650 --> 01:17:24,910
What does that mean?
1607
01:17:25,090 --> 01:17:27,220
The brightest star
in the universe.
1608
01:17:27,390 --> 01:17:29,830
I don't think it was
Richard's idea to do the book.
1609
01:17:30,010 --> 01:17:32,400
I think he was approached
to do the book.
1610
01:17:32,570 --> 01:17:34,009
Host: A thousand dollars
a day on coke.
1611
01:17:34,399 --> 01:17:36,229
My nose is big enough
to park diesel trucks.
1612
01:17:36,399 --> 01:17:38,269
...Diesel trucks.
...Diesel trucks in.
1613
01:17:38,449 --> 01:17:41,019
And God got me off of it.
And he healed my body.
1614
01:17:41,189 --> 01:17:44,189
And now I am a man of God
with a new book called
1615
01:17:44,369 --> 01:17:45,799
"The Life and Times
of Little Richard."
1616
01:17:45,979 --> 01:17:48,109
1617
01:17:48,279 --> 01:17:51,509
He didn't exactly tell
the truth all the time.
1618
01:17:52,029 --> 01:17:53,809
He states that I did things that
1619
01:17:54,639 --> 01:17:56,678
I didn't know I did
until I read that book.
1620
01:17:56,858 --> 01:17:59,208
Oh, a close-up. Close-up.
1621
01:17:59,378 --> 01:18:03,078
Once he started to feel a buzz,
it all came back.
1622
01:18:03,258 --> 01:18:04,518
When I first wrote
"Tutti Frutti,"
1623
01:18:04,688 --> 01:18:06,218
it was "Tutti frutti,
good booty."
1624
01:18:08,608 --> 01:18:10,648
1625
01:18:10,868 --> 01:18:13,048
People want it to be a thing,
you know?
1626
01:18:13,218 --> 01:18:14,618
I mean, this night,
1627
01:18:14,788 --> 01:18:16,878
"Oh, he's got a thing.
But wait a minute."
1628
01:18:17,048 --> 01:18:19,657
"This night,
he's got another thing."
1629
01:18:19,837 --> 01:18:21,267
"If it don't fit,
1630
01:18:22,277 --> 01:18:23,707
don't force it."
1631
01:18:24,487 --> 01:18:25,577
Did you understand that one?
1632
01:18:25,757 --> 01:18:27,277
Yeah. That's carpentry.
1633
01:18:27,447 --> 01:18:28,797
1634
01:18:28,977 --> 01:18:30,497
- Yeah.
- No.
1635
01:18:30,667 --> 01:18:32,457
Richard really
didn't have a thing.
1636
01:18:32,627 --> 01:18:35,327
Richard was who he wanted to be
when he wanted to be
1637
01:18:35,507 --> 01:18:38,597
how he wanted to be
on what day he wanted to be it.
1638
01:18:38,767 --> 01:18:42,816
Well, I haven't been, uh,
involved in sex in 14 years.
1639
01:18:43,686 --> 01:18:45,516
It's been 14 years now.
1640
01:18:45,686 --> 01:18:48,946
That's not my main thing
in life, period, anymore.
1641
01:18:49,126 --> 01:18:51,476
My main thing in life now
is to be a messenger.
1642
01:18:51,776 --> 01:18:53,086
Whether you're homosexual
1643
01:18:53,256 --> 01:18:55,606
or whatever walk of life
a person may be,
1644
01:18:55,786 --> 01:18:56,956
God loves them.
1645
01:18:57,566 --> 01:18:59,396
He existed in contradiction.
1646
01:18:59,566 --> 01:19:02,175
He could be openly gay
in some ways,
1647
01:19:02,355 --> 01:19:03,745
probably to his circles.
1648
01:19:04,395 --> 01:19:06,185
This happened for decades.
1649
01:19:06,925 --> 01:19:08,885
Nyong'o:
As a queer person myself,
1650
01:19:09,055 --> 01:19:11,405
I think that queerness
is often...
1651
01:19:11,975 --> 01:19:16,415
misunderstood as
an individual identity, right?
1652
01:19:16,585 --> 01:19:18,805
The truth of one person,
right?
1653
01:19:18,975 --> 01:19:23,724
As if we have a single truth
that we can never change.
1654
01:19:23,894 --> 01:19:25,074
He was flamboyant
1655
01:19:26,464 --> 01:19:27,594
at all times.
1656
01:19:27,774 --> 01:19:29,424
But it was all in Jesus' name.
1657
01:19:29,594 --> 01:19:31,204
Everything was in Jesus' name.
1658
01:19:31,814 --> 01:19:33,604
Everything.
1659
01:19:33,774 --> 01:19:36,034
♪ Great God Almighty,
been a long time coming ♪
1660
01:19:36,214 --> 01:19:37,994
Glenn: He's very, very generous.
1661
01:19:39,344 --> 01:19:41,004
Was really close to all of us
in the band.
1662
01:19:42,744 --> 01:19:44,174
He would say to the crowd,
1663
01:19:44,964 --> 01:19:47,183
"I'd like y'all to
meet my son."
1664
01:19:47,873 --> 01:19:49,963
And that's what I would always
call him, my second dad.
1665
01:19:50,143 --> 01:19:52,183
He'd break me off $100,
break Keith off $100,
1666
01:19:52,363 --> 01:19:54,533
just give everybody $100
or something, you know?
1667
01:19:54,713 --> 01:19:56,143
Just glad to see us.
1668
01:19:56,453 --> 01:19:58,673
He'd sent people to school
and college and stuff.
1669
01:19:58,883 --> 01:20:01,673
Angel: He paid rent,
including mine.
1670
01:20:02,283 --> 01:20:03,803
Never bragged about it.
1671
01:20:06,063 --> 01:20:08,332
Richard was the love of my life.
1672
01:20:09,812 --> 01:20:12,592
And I believe
I was the love of his.
1673
01:20:12,772 --> 01:20:15,032
He calls us.
He calls our moms.
1674
01:20:15,202 --> 01:20:18,992
I've never met someone
that was so real.
1675
01:20:20,432 --> 01:20:22,082
Nyong'o: Queer communities
know this well,
1676
01:20:22,252 --> 01:20:25,262
this idea of creating
your own family.
1677
01:20:26,222 --> 01:20:28,702
Glenn: We all really loved him
and cared about
1678
01:20:29,742 --> 01:20:31,131
him being great.
1679
01:20:31,521 --> 01:20:33,611
1680
01:20:35,351 --> 01:20:37,141
Reporter 1: Ten performers
who helped give birth
1681
01:20:37,311 --> 01:20:39,401
to rock 'n' roll
now have a permanent home.
1682
01:20:39,581 --> 01:20:40,621
Reporter 2:
It is the newly formed
1683
01:20:40,791 --> 01:20:42,361
Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame.
1684
01:20:42,541 --> 01:20:45,581
Jerry Lee Lewis, Chuck Berry,
the Everly Brothers,
1685
01:20:45,761 --> 01:20:49,721
Ray Charles, Little Richard,
James Brown, Fats Domino.
1686
01:20:51,071 --> 01:20:54,550
Nyong'o: There was a ceremony,
but Richard wasn't there.
1687
01:20:54,720 --> 01:20:58,380
1688
01:20:59,250 --> 01:21:03,430
Hervey: He had gotten in
a car accident in Hollywood.
1689
01:21:04,640 --> 01:21:06,340
I was in my sports car.
1690
01:21:06,910 --> 01:21:08,210
I was really tired.
1691
01:21:10,040 --> 01:21:11,560
And I just blacked out.
1692
01:21:12,130 --> 01:21:14,129
Oh, oh! Oh, my God!
1693
01:21:14,919 --> 01:21:17,569
Reporter: It's believed that
he fell asleep at the wheel.
1694
01:21:19,959 --> 01:21:24,229
Hervey: They found a bag
with about $30,000 in it.
1695
01:21:25,579 --> 01:21:27,749
He had flown to London
1696
01:21:28,489 --> 01:21:30,709
and gotten a record offer.
1697
01:21:31,849 --> 01:21:33,279
1698
01:21:33,939 --> 01:21:35,979
Hervey: He didn't have a lawyer.
He did all this on his own.
1699
01:21:36,148 --> 01:21:38,458
1700
01:21:41,548 --> 01:21:43,548
Man: He is very lucky
to have survived.
1701
01:21:44,988 --> 01:21:46,378
Nyong'o: I mean,
for Richard to have missed
1702
01:21:46,558 --> 01:21:48,168
the Hall of Fame ceremony,
1703
01:21:48,728 --> 01:21:52,078
it's the first and only time
he's been widely recognized.
1704
01:21:52,258 --> 01:21:53,558
That must have been
heartbreaking.
1705
01:21:54,828 --> 01:21:56,218
What's the most
important thing
1706
01:21:56,388 --> 01:21:57,828
in your life today?
1707
01:21:59,867 --> 01:22:00,957
Love.
1708
01:22:02,217 --> 01:22:04,267
That's what I want
so much to have.
1709
01:22:05,227 --> 01:22:09,797
I... I don't have it exactly...
exactly the way that I want to.
1710
01:22:09,967 --> 01:22:11,447
I don't have nobody but me,
1711
01:22:11,617 --> 01:22:14,187
and the great God of Abraham,
Isaac, and Jacob.
1712
01:22:23,716 --> 01:22:25,416
1713
01:22:25,596 --> 01:22:28,686
Hadley: That first
induction class in 1986
1714
01:22:28,856 --> 01:22:30,596
of the Rock 'n' Roll
Hall of Fame
1715
01:22:30,766 --> 01:22:32,986
had this double-edged sword
1716
01:22:33,166 --> 01:22:34,996
to where it is recognition,
1717
01:22:35,166 --> 01:22:37,086
but in a weird way,
1718
01:22:37,256 --> 01:22:41,216
it can also be dismissal
as a relic of the past.
1719
01:22:41,866 --> 01:22:45,175
Yes, you created it,
you invented it,
1720
01:22:45,345 --> 01:22:47,095
you set the template for it.
1721
01:22:47,265 --> 01:22:50,265
But, you know, the people
who really made it what it is
1722
01:22:50,445 --> 01:22:53,225
are these younger bands
or these white artists.
1723
01:22:53,405 --> 01:22:55,225
1724
01:22:56,405 --> 01:22:57,575
What?
1725
01:22:57,755 --> 01:22:59,405
I used to wear
my hair like that.
1726
01:22:59,585 --> 01:23:01,145
1727
01:23:01,325 --> 01:23:03,365
They take everything I get,
they take it from me.
1728
01:23:03,545 --> 01:23:04,804
Whoo.
1729
01:23:04,974 --> 01:23:07,154
Hadley:
Because of his flamboyance,
1730
01:23:07,374 --> 01:23:11,944
people made the mistake
of not taking him seriously
1731
01:23:12,114 --> 01:23:16,854
always, as a musician,
as a human, as a performer.
1732
01:23:17,034 --> 01:23:19,074
And the best new artist is...
1733
01:23:21,554 --> 01:23:22,864
1734
01:23:23,034 --> 01:23:24,174
Me.
1735
01:23:24,344 --> 01:23:26,693
1736
01:23:26,863 --> 01:23:28,393
I have never received nothing.
1737
01:23:28,563 --> 01:23:30,353
Y'all ain't never
gave me no Grammy.
1738
01:23:30,873 --> 01:23:32,703
King: It's endearing.
It's funny.
1739
01:23:33,353 --> 01:23:35,793
But as a Black man
watching that,
1740
01:23:35,963 --> 01:23:39,703
I heard seething anger that
underwrites what he's saying.
1741
01:23:39,883 --> 01:23:41,273
Shut up.
1742
01:23:41,443 --> 01:23:43,143
"You have never given me
what is due to me."
1743
01:23:43,323 --> 01:23:45,623
"And since you don't know,
I'm going to tell you."
1744
01:23:46,843 --> 01:23:48,892
♪ I can't turn you loose ♪
1745
01:23:49,062 --> 01:23:51,632
♪ If I do
I'm going to lose my mind ♪
1746
01:23:52,542 --> 01:23:54,982
♪ I can't ever turn you loose ♪
1747
01:23:55,152 --> 01:23:58,332
♪ If I do
I'm gonna lose my mind ♪
1748
01:23:58,502 --> 01:24:01,032
King: He was just going to do
the induction speech
1749
01:24:01,202 --> 01:24:03,472
for Otis Redding,
who's passed away,
1750
01:24:03,642 --> 01:24:05,252
but he comes on stage,
1751
01:24:05,422 --> 01:24:07,252
and they're playing
"I Can't Turn You Loose"
1752
01:24:07,432 --> 01:24:09,042
by Otis.
1753
01:24:09,302 --> 01:24:11,561
♪ I'm gonna give you
everything you want ♪
1754
01:24:11,731 --> 01:24:13,351
♪ Gotta, gotta ♪
1755
01:24:13,521 --> 01:24:15,831
King: And he wants you to know
that he knows
1756
01:24:16,001 --> 01:24:17,741
that he's the root
of all of this.
1757
01:24:17,911 --> 01:24:20,351
And nobody else
can sing this song like he can.
1758
01:24:20,531 --> 01:24:22,661
♪ Everybody got to know, yeah ♪
1759
01:24:24,051 --> 01:24:28,231
♪ Whoo, ooh, ow, ow, ow, ow! ♪
1760
01:24:28,401 --> 01:24:31,101
1761
01:24:32,841 --> 01:24:34,060
1762
01:24:36,930 --> 01:24:38,460
Oh, my God.
1763
01:24:38,890 --> 01:24:41,760
See, you all should record me.
I don't know why you're not.
1764
01:24:41,940 --> 01:24:43,380
1765
01:24:43,550 --> 01:24:44,720
I'm still here,
1766
01:24:45,730 --> 01:24:47,250
and I look decent.
1767
01:24:47,420 --> 01:24:51,080
1768
01:24:51,250 --> 01:24:52,650
Whoo-whee.
1769
01:24:52,820 --> 01:24:53,690
Shut up.
1770
01:24:54,300 --> 01:24:55,519
Make my picture.
1771
01:24:55,949 --> 01:24:57,039
1772
01:24:58,429 --> 01:25:01,259
Oh, I feel so real.
1773
01:25:02,389 --> 01:25:08,229
I feel so unnecessary.
1774
01:25:08,839 --> 01:25:10,969
On one hand,
they might be laughing at him.
1775
01:25:11,399 --> 01:25:12,749
And I'll tell you,
and when I first heard
1776
01:25:12,929 --> 01:25:15,189
Otis sing "Lucille,"
I thought it was me.
1777
01:25:15,359 --> 01:25:17,059
1778
01:25:17,238 --> 01:25:18,578
King:
They also might be laughing
1779
01:25:18,758 --> 01:25:20,238
because they're uncomfortable.
1780
01:25:20,408 --> 01:25:23,198
- He's speaking truth to power.
- Whoo!
1781
01:25:23,368 --> 01:25:24,938
King: And he is basically
telling them
1782
01:25:25,108 --> 01:25:26,548
what nobody really
wants to say,
1783
01:25:26,718 --> 01:25:28,068
but everyone should say.
1784
01:25:28,248 --> 01:25:29,548
What would it do
1785
01:25:30,118 --> 01:25:32,638
to the American mythology
of rock music
1786
01:25:32,818 --> 01:25:35,818
to say that its pioneers
were Black, queer people?
1787
01:25:36,778 --> 01:25:39,647
One of the greatest singers
ever lived,
1788
01:25:39,817 --> 01:25:42,297
one of the greatest
composers ever lived.
1789
01:25:43,257 --> 01:25:45,567
- That's including me...
1790
01:25:45,827 --> 01:25:47,347
...and everybody else,
1791
01:25:47,527 --> 01:25:48,957
Jimi Hendrix and all of them
that's been with me,
1792
01:25:49,137 --> 01:25:52,357
James Brown,
The Beatles, and Mick Jagger.
1793
01:25:52,527 --> 01:25:54,617
He don't ever mention it,
but he was with me, too.
1794
01:25:54,787 --> 01:25:56,577
You're waiting for your turn,
you know?
1795
01:25:56,747 --> 01:25:58,667
You're waiting for,
"What's he gonna say about me?"
1796
01:25:59,757 --> 01:26:01,187
Mick, you remember that.
1797
01:26:03,056 --> 01:26:04,926
He's here. He know.
He was sleeping on the floor.
1798
01:26:05,106 --> 01:26:06,756
They didn't have no bed for him.
1799
01:26:06,936 --> 01:26:09,106
- I know he can't forget.
1800
01:26:09,286 --> 01:26:11,766
That carpet's hard,
wasn't it, Mick?
1801
01:26:16,416 --> 01:26:18,246
Jagger: Everyone was
beholden to him
1802
01:26:18,426 --> 01:26:21,076
for influencing them to start
playing rock 'n' roll.
1803
01:26:24,385 --> 01:26:25,955
Whoo-whoo!
1804
01:26:26,775 --> 01:26:29,175
- Whoo-whoo!
-
1805
01:26:29,345 --> 01:26:31,955
♪ Send me some lovin' ♪
1806
01:26:36,225 --> 01:26:38,965
♪ Send it, I pray ♪
1807
01:26:39,135 --> 01:26:41,795
Hadley: By the '80s
and into the '90s,
1808
01:26:41,965 --> 01:26:44,795
everything that Little Richard
had put in motion
1809
01:26:44,965 --> 01:26:48,714
was now just the oxygen
of American popular music.
1810
01:26:49,454 --> 01:26:52,104
♪ When you're so far away ♪
1811
01:26:52,284 --> 01:26:55,804
Hadley: When I started checking
out in college, bands like...
1812
01:26:55,984 --> 01:26:57,594
♪ Should I stay or
should I go now? ♪
1813
01:26:57,804 --> 01:26:58,804
Hadley: ...Living Colour,
1814
01:27:01,074 --> 01:27:02,164
Bad Brains,
1815
01:27:03,684 --> 01:27:05,034
Fishbone,
1816
01:27:05,204 --> 01:27:06,814
I heard, like,
rock 'n' roll is Black.
1817
01:27:07,684 --> 01:27:10,643
That sounded heretical to me,
which is terrible.
1818
01:27:10,863 --> 01:27:15,133
I was just blown away
by how much I hadn't been told
1819
01:27:15,303 --> 01:27:17,173
about the truth of
rock 'n' roll.
1820
01:27:17,353 --> 01:27:20,573
♪ Whee!
Pretend you are here ♪
1821
01:27:21,483 --> 01:27:22,793
Robinson:
We're using the wrong word
1822
01:27:22,963 --> 01:27:25,183
when we talk about
appropriation.
1823
01:27:25,353 --> 01:27:28,013
Think about it as obliteration.
1824
01:27:28,923 --> 01:27:32,932
When you take and then erase,
1825
01:27:33,102 --> 01:27:36,152
you remove
that entity's capacity
1826
01:27:36,322 --> 01:27:39,372
to be attached to this thing
that they created,
1827
01:27:39,542 --> 01:27:42,892
to make money from this thing
that they created.
1828
01:27:43,072 --> 01:27:44,632
♪ Don't you know, baby ♪
1829
01:27:44,812 --> 01:27:46,242
♪ I need you so much ♪
1830
01:27:46,422 --> 01:27:49,332
The infrastructure
of the culture does that.
1831
01:27:49,512 --> 01:27:50,512
It still does it today.
1832
01:27:52,511 --> 01:27:53,991
Robinson: Little Richard
cannot be erased
1833
01:27:54,161 --> 01:27:56,471
and has a loud mouth
and has a fire.
1834
01:27:56,651 --> 01:27:59,741
So if you try to
take his shit...
1835
01:27:59,911 --> 01:28:01,781
...he is going to battle you,
1836
01:28:01,951 --> 01:28:05,701
not just from a
"This is my song" sort of way,
1837
01:28:05,871 --> 01:28:11,141
but "This is my sound,
my rhythm, my being."
1838
01:28:11,311 --> 01:28:13,881
♪ I waited on you, yeah ♪
1839
01:28:14,050 --> 01:28:15,790
♪ Hey ♪
1840
01:28:16,970 --> 01:28:19,540
1841
01:28:33,550 --> 01:28:34,680
1842
01:28:35,210 --> 01:28:36,639
Each year in presenting
1843
01:28:36,819 --> 01:28:39,079
the prestigious
American Music Award of Merit,
1844
01:28:39,249 --> 01:28:42,039
we tell you about someone
who has had an important
1845
01:28:42,209 --> 01:28:45,299
and ongoing impact
on contemporary music.
1846
01:28:45,479 --> 01:28:46,829
1847
01:28:46,999 --> 01:28:48,739
Hi, this is Keith Richards.
1848
01:28:49,439 --> 01:28:51,219
We were a bar band.
1849
01:28:51,399 --> 01:28:54,399
And at first tour,
I probably learned more
1850
01:28:54,569 --> 01:28:58,878
in that six weeks than I ever
had before or since.
1851
01:28:59,058 --> 01:29:01,618
Congratulations, Little Richard.
Give me a call, man.
1852
01:29:03,018 --> 01:29:07,238
Richard, you Georgia Peach.
Congratulations.
1853
01:29:07,498 --> 01:29:10,978
Thank you for helping
create rock music,
1854
01:29:11,148 --> 01:29:13,768
the greatest art form
of the 20th century.
1855
01:29:14,718 --> 01:29:15,808
God bless you, Richard.
1856
01:29:15,988 --> 01:29:17,768
Ladies and gentlemen, give it up
1857
01:29:17,938 --> 01:29:20,897
for the incredible
Little Richard!
1858
01:29:21,077 --> 01:29:22,767
♪ Tutti frutti, oh rootie ♪
1859
01:29:23,557 --> 01:29:25,777
♪ Tutti frutti, oh rootie ♪
1860
01:29:25,947 --> 01:29:28,517
♪ Tutti frutti, oh rootie ♪
1861
01:29:28,777 --> 01:29:30,997
♪ Tutti frutti, oh rootie ♪
1862
01:29:31,167 --> 01:29:33,787
♪ Tutti frutti, oh rootie ♪
1863
01:29:33,957 --> 01:29:36,217
♪ Wop bop a loo bop
a lop bom bom ♪
1864
01:29:36,397 --> 01:29:38,527
♪ I got a gal named Sue ♪
1865
01:29:39,747 --> 01:29:41,357
♪ She knows just what to do ♪
1866
01:29:41,527 --> 01:29:44,096
♪ I got a gal named Sue ♪
1867
01:29:44,266 --> 01:29:46,536
♪ She knows just what to do ♪
1868
01:29:47,146 --> 01:29:49,536
♪ She rocks to the east,
she rocks to the west ♪
1869
01:29:50,276 --> 01:29:52,056
♪ But she's the gal
that I love best ♪
1870
01:29:52,236 --> 01:29:54,196
♪ Tutti frutti, oh rootie ♪
1871
01:29:54,366 --> 01:29:56,716
♪ Tutti frutti, oh rootie ♪
1872
01:29:57,026 --> 01:29:59,676
I'm really glad
to get this award.
1873
01:29:59,856 --> 01:30:02,066
It's been a long time coming,
1874
01:30:02,246 --> 01:30:04,725
- and I've been waiting.
1875
01:30:04,895 --> 01:30:07,725
And I'm just so grateful
that Dick Clark,
1876
01:30:07,905 --> 01:30:10,075
which is an old friend of mine,
he and his wife,
1877
01:30:10,255 --> 01:30:12,215
have seen fit
to make this tribute to me
1878
01:30:12,385 --> 01:30:14,345
while I'm still alive
in this world.
1879
01:30:14,515 --> 01:30:17,385
And... And I'm just glad that...
1880
01:30:18,085 --> 01:30:19,565
I'm glad that he saw
1881
01:30:19,735 --> 01:30:22,565
and he wants you to see
that I am the originator.
1882
01:30:22,745 --> 01:30:25,225
-
- I am the emancipator.
1883
01:30:26,005 --> 01:30:28,354
I am the architect
of rock 'n' roll.
1884
01:30:28,874 --> 01:30:30,704
Rhythm and blues had a baby...
1885
01:30:30,884 --> 01:30:32,834
...and somebody
named it rock 'n' roll.
1886
01:30:33,014 --> 01:30:35,184
1887
01:30:35,364 --> 01:30:36,624
Yes.
1888
01:30:38,194 --> 01:30:40,714
Oh. That was that night
all over again. Wow.
1889
01:30:41,974 --> 01:30:43,544
Where did you go?
What happened?
1890
01:30:44,284 --> 01:30:45,594
Uh...
1891
01:30:46,154 --> 01:30:50,463
I remember sitting back in
the back watching him get that.
1892
01:30:50,643 --> 01:30:53,593
And... And when I saw him
start to cry,
1893
01:30:53,773 --> 01:30:56,683
it... just like right now,
it made me cry.
1894
01:30:56,863 --> 01:30:59,993
1895
01:31:03,343 --> 01:31:04,303
1896
01:31:06,563 --> 01:31:08,173
1897
01:31:10,263 --> 01:31:13,662
Because, you know, he had
mentioned on the ride over,
1898
01:31:13,832 --> 01:31:15,052
you know, how...
1899
01:31:15,962 --> 01:31:19,272
uh, how he'd always felt
like he didn't get what,
1900
01:31:19,452 --> 01:31:21,582
you know, he didn't get
what he deserved and...
1901
01:31:22,142 --> 01:31:24,672
how he created all this music.
1902
01:31:24,842 --> 01:31:28,592
And nobody... nobody gave him
anything for it, you know?
1903
01:31:28,762 --> 01:31:30,072
And, uh...
1904
01:31:32,682 --> 01:31:35,641
Oh, man.
Sorry, y'all.
1905
01:31:36,511 --> 01:31:40,641
I think more of us
should declare what we are.
1906
01:31:41,861 --> 01:31:43,381
Especially for people of color,
1907
01:31:43,561 --> 01:31:46,471
especially for queer people,
right, in this culture.
1908
01:31:46,651 --> 01:31:48,081
Don't shrink.
1909
01:31:48,561 --> 01:31:51,001
In a sort of more religious,
conservative religious space,
1910
01:31:51,171 --> 01:31:52,651
you don't declare who you are.
1911
01:31:53,521 --> 01:31:55,570
You don't declare what you did.
You...
1912
01:31:57,220 --> 01:31:59,140
give the glory to God.
1913
01:32:00,360 --> 01:32:02,790
And when Little Richard
is talking about
1914
01:32:02,970 --> 01:32:04,190
being the innovator,
1915
01:32:04,710 --> 01:32:07,100
and when he's talking about
being the originator,
1916
01:32:07,280 --> 01:32:11,540
he's saying,
"I am the god of this."
1917
01:32:13,940 --> 01:32:18,549
And that's one of those spaces
where I know that he knows
1918
01:32:19,679 --> 01:32:23,289
that when he is fully himself,
he's closest to God.
1919
01:32:23,469 --> 01:32:25,079
1920
01:32:25,599 --> 01:32:27,989
1921
01:32:36,219 --> 01:32:38,389
♪ Good golly, Miss Molly ♪
1922
01:32:39,438 --> 01:32:41,308
♪ Sure like to ball ♪
1923
01:32:41,788 --> 01:32:44,178
♪ Oooh, Miss Molly ♪
1924
01:32:45,228 --> 01:32:46,618
♪ Sure like to ball ♪
1925
01:32:48,448 --> 01:32:50,318
♪ When you're rockin'
and a-rollin' ♪
1926
01:32:51,188 --> 01:32:52,708
♪ I can't hear
your mama call ♪
1927
01:32:53,708 --> 01:32:56,108
♪ Oooh, Miss Molly ♪
1928
01:32:57,148 --> 01:32:58,978
♪ Sure like to ball ♪
1929
01:32:59,588 --> 01:33:01,847
♪ Oooh, Miss Molly ♪
1930
01:33:03,457 --> 01:33:04,597
♪ Sure like to ball ♪
1931
01:33:06,247 --> 01:33:08,857
♪ When you're rockin'
and a-rollin' ♪
1932
01:33:09,027 --> 01:33:10,507
♪ I can't hear your mama call ♪
1933
01:33:10,687 --> 01:33:12,427
Guitar! Whoo!
1934
01:33:15,517 --> 01:33:16,867
Whoohoo!
1935
01:33:17,037 --> 01:33:18,607
Clark:
The architect of rock 'n' roll.
1936
01:33:18,777 --> 01:33:20,827
The one, the only,
Little Richard.
1937
01:33:21,737 --> 01:33:23,137
I am
the beautiful Little Richard,
1938
01:33:23,307 --> 01:33:24,616
and don't you ever forget it.
1939
01:33:24,786 --> 01:33:29,136
Whoo!
1940
01:33:29,316 --> 01:33:31,396
- Whoo!
1941
01:33:31,576 --> 01:33:33,926
- You're Little Richard.
- ♪ Whoo-ooh! ♪
1942
01:33:34,446 --> 01:33:36,626
Hey,
it's Little Richard on ice.
1943
01:33:37,056 --> 01:33:38,496
Hi, Pee-wee!
1944
01:33:38,666 --> 01:33:39,976
Whoo!
1945
01:33:40,976 --> 01:33:42,756
Jones: Any true performer,
1946
01:33:42,936 --> 01:33:45,416
that thing
doesn't ever leave you.
1947
01:33:46,455 --> 01:33:49,985
And I think he tried to hold on
to it as long as he could.
1948
01:33:52,335 --> 01:33:55,465
Crawley: For me, architecture
isn't about always answering
1949
01:33:55,645 --> 01:33:57,425
what will be done,
1950
01:33:58,385 --> 01:34:00,215
but what could be done?
1951
01:34:02,515 --> 01:34:05,475
And queerness
is the openness
1952
01:34:05,655 --> 01:34:07,744
to the expansive imagination.
1953
01:34:09,264 --> 01:34:13,264
Life does not happen
in opposites.
1954
01:34:13,744 --> 01:34:16,874
It happens in shades,
in gradations,
1955
01:34:17,664 --> 01:34:18,834
in spectra.
1956
01:34:21,364 --> 01:34:24,804
Rock 'n' roll is not
a part of Jesus.
1957
01:34:25,494 --> 01:34:28,414
Anything that is not of God
is not from God.
1958
01:34:28,584 --> 01:34:31,983
And his last days were calling
everybody he knew and saying,
1959
01:34:32,153 --> 01:34:34,813
"Get right with God
because the end of the world
1960
01:34:34,983 --> 01:34:37,903
could be any moment,
and you need to be ready."
1961
01:34:39,643 --> 01:34:41,553
Crawley: He was reflecting
on his mortality.
1962
01:34:41,733 --> 01:34:43,213
He was reflecting on
1963
01:34:43,383 --> 01:34:44,773
is there a way that I could
1964
01:34:44,953 --> 01:34:47,473
live something
of a joyful afterlife?
1965
01:34:49,693 --> 01:34:52,562
The last months of his life,
1966
01:34:52,742 --> 01:34:56,392
it was important for him
to tell people
1967
01:34:56,572 --> 01:34:58,392
that God is love
1968
01:34:58,572 --> 01:35:01,312
and that he loved all mankind.
1969
01:35:03,752 --> 01:35:05,362
I don't see the end as
1970
01:35:05,972 --> 01:35:07,972
the only place
where the meaning resides.
1971
01:35:09,492 --> 01:35:13,502
Java: I would never have taken
a chance to go into the clubs
1972
01:35:13,672 --> 01:35:15,111
in a dress
1973
01:35:15,281 --> 01:35:17,891
if it wasn't for Little Richard.
1974
01:35:18,151 --> 01:35:20,111
He gave me peace
1975
01:35:20,291 --> 01:35:22,551
that I could go and do
1976
01:35:22,721 --> 01:35:25,071
and be who I wanted to be.
1977
01:35:26,201 --> 01:35:28,161
If you could leave
just one legacy to the world,
1978
01:35:28,341 --> 01:35:29,951
would it rather be your music
1979
01:35:30,121 --> 01:35:31,991
or your preaching
and your church work?
1980
01:35:32,821 --> 01:35:35,131
I think all that goes together.
1981
01:35:35,951 --> 01:35:37,910
I don't go to church
and sing "Long Tall Sally"
1982
01:35:38,090 --> 01:35:39,520
or "Good Golly Miss Molly."
1983
01:35:40,480 --> 01:35:42,870
But all of it's music,
and I love it.
1984
01:35:46,790 --> 01:35:49,750
1985
01:36:04,679 --> 01:36:08,459
He paved the way
for everything that followed.
1986
01:36:13,899 --> 01:36:17,689
Nyong'o: He taught me that
you could claim things
1987
01:36:17,869 --> 01:36:20,778
even when you weren't
supposed to.
1988
01:36:20,958 --> 01:36:22,778
I am the king of rock 'n' roll.
1989
01:36:22,958 --> 01:36:25,608
Ow-ow-ow! My, my, my.
1990
01:36:26,788 --> 01:36:30,308
Anthony: Little Richard gave
the world permission to be.
1991
01:36:30,488 --> 01:36:33,708
To be who you wanted to be,
who you were.
1992
01:36:41,408 --> 01:36:42,847
Porter:
The reason why I'm finally,
1993
01:36:43,017 --> 01:36:45,887
finally able,
as a Black queer man,
1994
01:36:46,067 --> 01:36:48,457
to show up
and do anything I want
1995
01:36:48,627 --> 01:36:49,977
is because of him.
1996
01:36:56,687 --> 01:36:58,557
Crawley: It's almost
as if everyone
1997
01:36:58,727 --> 01:36:59,647
is defined by Little Richard.
1998
01:37:01,867 --> 01:37:03,347
I don't want anything from them.
1999
01:37:03,517 --> 01:37:06,296
All I want them to do is
to spread what they got from me.
2000
01:37:06,476 --> 01:37:08,736
Just carry the good word
over the world, that's all.
2001
01:37:14,836 --> 01:37:16,446
2002
01:37:17,446 --> 01:37:19,876
♪ Wop bop a loo bop
a lop bom bom ♪
2003
01:37:20,056 --> 01:37:21,836
♪ Tutti frutti, oh rootie ♪
2004
01:37:22,016 --> 01:37:24,146
♪ Tutti frutti, oh rootie ♪
2005
01:37:24,316 --> 01:37:26,845
♪ Tutti frutti, oh rootie ♪
2006
01:37:27,015 --> 01:37:29,105
♪ Tutti frutti, oh rootie ♪
2007
01:37:29,275 --> 01:37:31,935
♪ Tutti frutti, oh rootie ♪
2008
01:37:32,105 --> 01:37:34,115
♪ A wop bop a loo bop
a lop ba boom ♪
2009
01:37:34,285 --> 01:37:36,765
♪ I got a girl named Sue ♪
2010
01:37:36,935 --> 01:37:39,075
♪ She knows just what to do ♪
2011
01:37:39,245 --> 01:37:41,725
♪ I got a girl named Sue ♪
2012
01:37:41,905 --> 01:37:44,165
♪ She knows just what to do ♪
2013
01:37:44,335 --> 01:37:46,905
♪ She rocks to the east,
rocks to the west ♪
2014
01:37:47,075 --> 01:37:49,034
♪ She's the girl
that I love best ♪
2015
01:37:49,214 --> 01:37:51,344
♪ Tutti frutti, oh rootie ♪
2016
01:37:51,514 --> 01:37:53,954
♪ Tutti frutti,
oh rootie, ooh ♪
2017
01:37:54,134 --> 01:37:56,304
♪ Tutti frutti, oh rootie ♪
2018
01:37:56,484 --> 01:37:58,914
♪ Tutti frutti, oh rootie ♪
2019
01:37:59,094 --> 01:38:01,574
♪ Tutti frutti, oh rootie ♪
2020
01:38:01,744 --> 01:38:04,004
♪ A wop bop a loo bop
a lop bom bom ♪
2021
01:38:04,184 --> 01:38:06,184
♪ I got a girl named Daisy ♪
2022
01:38:06,354 --> 01:38:08,574
♪ She almost drives me crazy ♪
2023
01:38:08,754 --> 01:38:11,233
♪ I got a girl named Daisy ♪
2024
01:38:11,403 --> 01:38:13,803
♪ She almost drives me crazy ♪
2025
01:38:13,973 --> 01:38:16,323
♪ She knows how to love me
Yes, indeed ♪
2026
01:38:16,503 --> 01:38:18,763
♪ Boy, you don't know
what she do to me ♪
2027
01:38:18,933 --> 01:38:21,023
♪ Tutti frutti, oh rootie ♪
2028
01:38:21,203 --> 01:38:23,683
♪ Tutti frutti,
oh rootie, ooh ♪
2029
01:38:23,853 --> 01:38:25,813
♪ Tutti frutti, oh rootie ♪
2030
01:38:25,983 --> 01:38:28,293
♪ Tutti frutti, oh rootie ♪
2031
01:38:28,463 --> 01:38:31,033
♪ Tutti frutti, oh rootie ♪
2032
01:38:31,213 --> 01:38:34,252
♪ Wop bop a loo bop
a bop bop, ow! ♪
2033
01:38:37,522 --> 01:38:39,262
♪ Ah-ah-ah ♪
2034
01:38:42,482 --> 01:38:43,872
♪ Yeah, yeah ♪
2035
01:38:47,532 --> 01:38:50,402
♪ Oh, tutti frutti, oh rootie ♪
2036
01:38:50,572 --> 01:38:53,012
♪ Tutti frutti,
oh rootie, ooh ♪
2037
01:38:53,182 --> 01:38:55,231
♪ Tutti frutti, oh rootie ♪
2038
01:38:55,401 --> 01:38:57,841
♪ Tutti frutti, oh rootie ♪
2039
01:38:58,021 --> 01:39:00,501
♪ Tutti frutti, oh rootie ♪
2040
01:39:00,671 --> 01:39:03,631
♪ A wop bop a loo bop
a bop bang boom ♪
2041
01:39:04,591 --> 01:39:06,891
2042
01:40:33,277 --> 01:40:35,327
149495
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