Personal memories of Little Richard and his connection to Milwaukee

While experiencing great sadness at the news of the passing last week, at 87, of the groundbreaking Little Richard Penniman, I recall my distinct pleasure watching him in person on a number of occasions in Milwaukee during his hey-day in the 1950s and talking at length with him by telephone here in 1991.

Indeed, among the many great, black performers I have known and interviewed from the era of original black rhythm and blues (1948-62)—from the likes of Antoine “Fats” Domino to Ruth Brown—Little Richard was in a class by himself.

In addition to “Long Tall Sally”—my all-time Little Richard favorite—I best loved “Baby Face” and “By the Light of the Silvery Moon.”

During his long career, the 5-feet-10 Little Richard—capitalizing on the names of Little Willie John, Little Anthony and Little Esther—sang the theme song in two movies, The Girl Can’t Help It (1956) and $Dollars (1971).

Now Little Richard Penniman—the architect of rock ‘n’ roll and its most influential and uniquely powerful performer—is gone.