His singing was boisterous and thunderous and yet perfectly pitched. He pounded the piano like he was trying to beat it into submission. But now he was mounting a comeback, as the first wave of rock 'n' rollers found a new audience at the dawn of the 1970s. By that point in his career he'd already gone through several transformations, notably leaving behind his stardom for a religious awakening (reportedly inspired, remarkably, after seeing Sputnik in the sky over a concert in Australia and mistaking it for a sign from God). I think I first saw Richard when he performed on Mike Douglas' daytime variety show. They helped create an enduring template for rock 'n' roll, but they also influenced hip hop and rewrote the rule book for R&B. They practically leapt off the turntable in a way that records - certainly in 1955 - never had before. 'Long Tall Sally,' 'Good Golly Miss Molly,' 'Rip It Up' and, of course, 'Tutti Frutti,' the song recorded in 15 minutes that changed music forever, were nothing short of explosive on vinyl. Just listen to Richard's first singles for Specialty Records. He had a distinctive and colorful style, undeniable gifts as a performer and an uncompromising artistic and personal nature that allowed him to stand out among those iconic early rock 'n' rollers - all of whom, except for Lewis, he outlived. The world feels a bit less wild for the loss. Richard, born Richard Wayne Penniman in rural Georgia, died today at 87.
