"I'm the very beautiful Little Richard from Macon, Georgia," he said, and we all went wild. He proclaimed himself The Originator, which he certainly was. He said, "People think - (in hushed tones) somebody else- invented Rock & Roll, but we all know that's not true." We screamed and stomped and whistled.
It must have been painful for Little Richard to witness Elvis Presley's phenomenal success bringing HIS music to a wider (read that white) audience, to be considered an "also ran" by so many who idolized Elvis.
It was the 34th Annual San Francisco Blues Festival. The amazing Ruth Brown, 76, preceded Richard on the program. She still has everything she needs to hold an audience spellbound. The lady has pipes and a laugh that could cure anyone's blues. To hear her sing is to love her madly.
Little Richard was the closing act, and at 74, he still sounds like the young man he used to be. He is a mischievous charmer who knows how to make a thousand people eat out of his hand. He's funny, eccentric, and holds nothing back. We were all ready to receive it like communion wafers. We sat there with our mouths hanging open. He owned us all.
You know, I can't write anything about these two that doesn't sound like promotional publicity stuff or liner notes. It was just an incredible thrill to hear two legendary performers in person, and to know that they are still at the top of their game.
We should all be that good at something at their ages, or ever.
