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“Its not the size of the ship; it’s the size of the waves.”

– Little Richard

Today marks exactly one month since the passing of musical legend known to the world as Little Richard (born Richard Wayne Penniman 1932). Whether or not you were a fan, experienced him live or listened to his records, there is little doubt whether you were influenced by his music. I was lucky to have checked each of those boxes and more.

His passing brought up a number of fond memories, and some valuable reminders, in a turbulent and oddly synchronous time. The stresses from the COVID-19 crisis and added tension from racial injustice were thick in the air. Our EarthTones.org team had been in the midst of creating and sharing resources that leverage the power music and movement to help people get through the challenges. The week that Little Richard passed, at 88 keys young, we were promoting dance as a way to create a mental, physical and emotional power mix of music, motion, and joy.

Little Richard had anything but an easy path to stardom. He was 1 of 12 children in a poor fatherless home, trying to make his way in the face of abuse, discrimination, injustice and financial hardship. But Richard didn’t let obstacles stop him. He fought back by making the world dance. Rather than be held down by others, he created joy to lift others up. He helped millions of people forget about their troubles, kick off their shoes (or put on their favorite ones), and start to move their bodies to an insatiable beat. He showed us how one man, with fire in his soul and music as his vessel, could amplify waves of joy across the globe.

I had the unforgettable privilege of working with Little Richard once. We were recording the end title song for a really fun comedy called Twins (starring Arnold Schwarzenegger and Danny DeVito). Joining Little Richard for the duet was another of my favorite voices of R&B, the legendary singer for Earth, Wind & Fire, Philip Bailey.

Just as the stars of Twins were an unlikely pairing of extremes, so were the singing duo in the studio that night: Little Richard and Phillip Bailey. Other than both being unbelievably talented artists and musical icons known for great falsettos, their demeanor was quite different. Little Richard was the flamboyant pedal-to-the-metal raw definition of uncensored joy and sexual freedom, while Philip was the highly refined, deeply spiritual and visionary voice of harmony, global unity and love, more akin to his Earth, Wind and Fire co-founder Maurice White or that soulful voice of the civil rights movement, Curtis Mayfield. Yet, like with Schwarzenegger and DeVito, it just worked. The deep love and respect that Richard and Phillip had for each other, and their off-the-charts combined talent, filled the studio and the hearts of each of us present with awe.

Elvis might have been crowned The King, but Little Richard was definitely the Prince of Rock and Roll. Or as the self-proclaimed “emancipator”, with the self-assurance of Muhammad Ali and the energy of Mick Jagger, once told an interviewer “I am Rock & Roll.” (Rolling Stone, May 9, 2020).

Whether you agree with that claim or not, Little Richard changed the future of both Rock & Roll and R&B, influencing countless music legends to follow. Jimi Hendrix played guitar for him, James Brown sang backup vocals for him, David Bowie and Bob Dylan dreamed of joining his band as kids, and the Beatles and the Rolling Stones bowed down to him for his inspiration.

The degree of this influence became especially clear to me while I was working a show for the release of the album and tour entitled 1999 headlined by another prince – one who later became the artist with no name. When I met Prince and saw him perform on stage for the first time that night, I couldn’t believe my eyes and ears. My amazement wasn’t just because of Prince’s incredible talent, but because I saw a young Little Richard come alive in him – the moves, the clothes, the hair, the falsetto, the confidence, the undeniable sensuality, the irrefutable talent and the bigger-than-life presence. 

What I reflect back on my evening in the studio with Little Richard, one thing really sticks with me. The contagious energy with which he filled the room when he walked in the door was the same energy the filled a concert hall when he walked on stage. He was a star that could light up the darkest of skies. 

Maybe that is what was the most important personal reminder I received when I learned he passed – to be that star in the dark sky. How, even in the most serious and challenging of times, we need generators of joy. 

I’ll never forget that night with Little Richard. He made me laugh, he made me dance, and he reaffirmed once again my deep love and appreciation the power of the human voice, and music. Imagine what the world would look like today if we all decided to raise our voices in song and dance together. Maybe we could create a pandemic of happiness and waves of joy across the globe.

Little Richard touched my life. He shaped my music. He changed the future of both Rock & Roll and R&B, and he influenced countless music legends to follow. But it wasn’t just his musical talent that moved me, and will stay with me forever, it was his unbridled energy and his perseverance. Even with all the odds stacked against him, Little Richard consistently filled the world with joy, song, and dance.

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About the Author 

Frank Fitzpatrick is a Creative Visioneer, Engagement Expert and High-Performance Coach on the Faculty of Singularity University’s Exponential Medicine.

To connect, go to FrankFitzpatrick.com

To learn more about working 1-on1 with Frank, go to BeyondPerformance.Life

 

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