Little Richard was known for his big personality and charismatic performances. An influential figure for 7 decades, starting in the 1950s, Richard embodied the spirit of rock and roll as we know it today. His influence is undeniable and everlasting. As musicians, we often say that we owe everything to the Beatles. Well, the Beatles were influenced heavily by Little Richard, and even opened for him on several occasions.
Little Richard was also famous for his raspy vocals. He was the pioneer of the vocal fry scream that many rock artists have become known for, spanning generations, from Paul McCartney, to Kurt Cobain and Chris Cornell, to Chester Bennington. Little Richard and Paul McCartney outlived all three of the other artists listed.
Little Richard’s musical influence does not simply stop at rock and roll, however. His captivating performances and uptempo piano hammering reached the hearts of many, and it is said he also helped form soul and funk, as well as shaping the landscape for hip hop and rhythm and blues.
Little Richard’s discography is vast and impressive. Some of his most well known songs are Good Golly, Miss Molly; Tutti Frutti; Long Tall Sally, among many others. Additionally, he has been inducted into countless Halls of Fame, most notably the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Songwriters’ Hall of Fame. He also received a Hollywood Walk of Fame star in 1990.
In mid-2020, Little Richard died of a cause relating to bone cancer, at the age of 87. It is said that he continued to sing, rock, and even roll in his 80s, although it seems he shied away from the public stage.
His legacy is immense and he will forever be remembered as the Architect of Rock and Roll
Industry Pulse
Elton John’s New Sexlist: Sir Elton John’s headline show at Glastonbury will feature a completely new setlist, according to the star, who said that, “When you put a setlist together, I always say it’s a bit like having sex…”
“…from mosh pit to posh pit”: The Telegraph outlines how the middle class, their children, and yoga have ruined music festivals such as Glastonbury, for which tickets now cost £340.
Leicester’s Potential Annual Nelson Mandela Festival: An application has been submitted to the Leicester City Council to start an annual music festival in the Nelson Mandela Park in the city. The organiser said that the event will celebrate African music.
Song of the Day
Not Sorry is one of the more interesting songs on The Cranberries’ debut album, with a decidedly dissonant chorus, with keening, pleading vocals that convey a melancholy yet angry disposition.
100 Albums to Listen to
Ants From Up There – Black Country, New Road
A perfect culmination of everything that makes the current underground British art rock scene so appealing and exciting and the experimentation possible only with such a wide cast of musicians of varying expertise and backgrounds, “Ants From Up There” is a beautifully produced masterpiece with hooks that will leave the listener with earworms for months. Its lavish instrumentation, complex harmonies, and linear builds create a sonic landscape that makes it impossible for the listener to want for more.
3/100
Maths can be a TOOL for music
Legendary alternative metal band TOOL is known for their complex time signatures and rhythms. Often seamlessly changing between irregular time signatures, sometimes several times within one section, TOOL’s rhythm section undoubtedly needs to be tight and well-practised. Ostensibly, TOOL puts in a lot of effort to make sure their songs sound interesting and different.
It is clear that TOOL knows their music theory. What is not so clear, however, is the fact that the band also knows their maths.
On 2001’s Lateralus, TOOL made use of the Fibonacci sequence on the title track. Each line in the verse’s syllables count up and down the Fibonacci sequence. In other words, lines 1 and 2 contain 1 syllable each, line 2 contains 2, line 3 contains 3, line 4 contains 5, etc. There are many coincidences of the Fibonacci sequence lining up with other details of the song, as outlined in a YouTube video by Polyphonic, who broke down in more depth the song’s relation to the mathematical sequence.
Lyrical Lament
You can live a lie until you die/One thing you can’t hide/Is when you’re crippled inside