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Product Description
Product Description
The classic authorized biography that told it all. When Little Richard burst onto the scene in the early 1950s, he sounded like nothing on earth. Drenched in sweat, screaming, hollering and pumping his piano, his stage act was so explosive that for years people assumed the real man could never match the flamboyant public image. Then came Charles White's sensational book exposing the even more astonishing life and times of Richard Wayne Penniman from Georgia. Little Richard made himself a star through sheer force of personality, breaking racial and sexual taboos on his way to becoming the primal force of Fifties rock 'n' roll. Elvis Presley called him 'the greatest'. Otis Redding called him his 'inspiration' and James Brown called him his idol. Charles White is the only author to have captured the true energy of Little Richard. Using Richard's own words, White chronicles a staggering career that spanned the very rules of rock 'n' roll, the rise of The Beatles, tussles with God and The Devil and an erratic series of comebacks. Illustrated with pictures from Little Richard's own archive and including a comprehensive discography.
About the Author
Charles White, better known as Dr Rock, is official biographer to both Little Richard and Jerry Lee Lewis. Born in Dublin in 1942, he studied medicine in the Sixties and then moved to Scarborough where he still lives. He is both a writer and broadcaster, and a recognised expert on early rock 'n' roll.
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First Sentence
I first met my husband, Bud Penniman, at a holy meeting in Macón, Georgia, when I was just thirteen years old. Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
I first met my husband, Bud Penniman, at a holy meeting in Macón, Georgia, when I was just thirteen years old. Read the first page
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Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Stunningly revelatory, rip-roaringly hilarious account of one of rock's greatest pioneers. Astonishingly vivid, uproariously entertaining, gasp-inducing account of his early life and subsequent explosive effect on music. Could not recommend more highly - ranks with Guralnick's books on Elvis and Tosches on Jerry Lee Lewis.
3 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Little Richard's career is just a little hard to follow and so are parts of this book. Fans still will not get answers regarding mystery recording sessions; singing Rock and Roll overseas and singing Gospel at home; the long, long list of unrealized projects, unreleased recordings. But the heart of this book is what matters - this man is a King whose story was never told in full until Charles White successfully convinced an artist and manager who undoubtedly had been approached before. The message still is: since it is a tragedy that the people Little Richard influenced have books and CDs released seemingly on a whim and the man himself has very little product available [the earlier editions of The Life And Times... and an endless stream of recycled recuts] at least some serious *literary* attention is warranted.
The recording session section is believed to have been changed from the original gallies, and then badly edited, so don't expect exact recording dates or complete session player lists throughout. In several places even casual fans can easily point out errors. Although the story is updated, the sessionography appears to be as confused as on the *1984* hardcover!
The recording session section is believed to have been changed from the original gallies, and then badly edited, so don't expect exact recording dates or complete session player lists throughout. In several places even casual fans can easily point out errors. Although the story is updated, the sessionography appears to be as confused as on the *1984* hardcover!
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
4 reviews
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful
STUNNING, BRUTALLY HONEST PORTRAIT OF A LEGEND
15 Jan 2007
Format:Paperback
Little Richard was more than any other artist, the start of rock n roll music. He inspired generations of r&b, rock, and soul artists and set the wheels in motion for James Brown and the development of funk. Elvis called him an inspiration and the greatest, James Brown called him his idol, Smokey called him the start of that funky, drivin, never-let-up rock and roll, Ray Charles called him the man that started a kind of music that set the pace for a lot of what's happenein today, Jimi Hendrix said he wanted to do with his guitar what Little Richard did with his voice. Considering Richard's pivotal role in the formation of modern music, it is sad that this is the only biographical or autobiographical book that is available to the public. Far more than recall the early days in the formation of the most important art form of the twentieth century, this semi-autobiographical work is a brutally frank testimony of Richard's difficult 'wild years' and the poignant return to the born-again Christian faith in which he was raised by his mother. Love him or loathe him, he remains the heart and soul of rock n roll. And almost 55 years from his first recordings (in the early 1950's) he still can rock (check out his 2002 tribute to the late Johnny Cash on 'Kindred Spirits' and his 2005 recording with Jerry Lee Lewis on the upcoming release 'The Pilgrim'.) May God continue to bless Little Richard!!
WARNING - This is brutally frank, open, honest portrait of a remarkable man, and, despite the tesitmony of his born again Christian converstion in the final chapters, some of the material would be considered offensive. It is definately for mature readers.
WARNING - This is brutally frank, open, honest portrait of a remarkable man, and, despite the tesitmony of his born again Christian converstion in the final chapters, some of the material would be considered offensive. It is definately for mature readers.
8 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Updated story; downgraded sessiongraphy-discography
30 Aug 2003
Format:Paperback
Despite what VH1-type music channels imply, Little Richard is the most influential rock artist of all time. This book does not fully explore the *musical* reason for that statement, but remains, almost 19 years after its' launch, perhaps the most literate pop music biography.
It's amazing that so many rock culture writers apparently have not seriously referenced this book and learned of the importance of LR to RR. For example, book after book on the Beatles and Jimi Hendrix, for example, still use Richard as a quirky, eccentric, gender-bending footnote - yeah, way in the beginning, they dug his flambouyance...McCartney was doing Richard on "Sgt. Pepper", folks.
Too bad that in some ways this book mirrors the sometimes confused and misguided career of its' subject - talking strictly about the ever-important recording session section. It surely appears that the current publisher used the original erroneous collation done by someone other than Mr. White. Simply put, there are too many obvious editing mistakes for that section to be taken seriously.
I hope Omnibus Press can correct this disappointing feature.
On the other hand, this edition adds some wonderful rare photographs and an interesting contribution by "Lifetime Friend" album producer Stuart Colman.
It's amazing that so many rock culture writers apparently have not seriously referenced this book and learned of the importance of LR to RR. For example, book after book on the Beatles and Jimi Hendrix, for example, still use Richard as a quirky, eccentric, gender-bending footnote - yeah, way in the beginning, they dug his flambouyance...McCartney was doing Richard on "Sgt. Pepper", folks.
Too bad that in some ways this book mirrors the sometimes confused and misguided career of its' subject - talking strictly about the ever-important recording session section. It surely appears that the current publisher used the original erroneous collation done by someone other than Mr. White. Simply put, there are too many obvious editing mistakes for that section to be taken seriously.
I hope Omnibus Press can correct this disappointing feature.
On the other hand, this edition adds some wonderful rare photographs and an interesting contribution by "Lifetime Friend" album producer Stuart Colman.
Great Book about a Living Legend
12 Dec 2011
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
Without Little Richard, there would not be scores of rock artists as we know them today. Little Richard was inspiration for many, many Rock & Roll acts over the years. This book walks you through his chilhood & career.
Any Rock enthusiast should read this just for the history.
Any Rock enthusiast should read this just for the history.
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