Following the death of Little Richard, Mick Jagger tells via Twitter on Saturday how inspiring the singer has been for him. The Rolling Stones leader also emphasizes what the artist has meant for pop music.
— Mick Jagger (@MickJagger) May 9, 2020
“I am so sad to hear that Little Richard has passed away,” Jagger said. “He was the biggest inspiration in my early teens. When you play his music nowadays, it still has the same raw electric energy as it did when it shot through the music scene in the 1950s.”
Little Richard played on the first tour of the Rolling Stones in 1963. Later he and Jagger also performed with the song I Can’t Turn You Loose , as an ode to singer Otis Redding.
Jagger: “When we were on tour with him, I watched his movements every night. I learned from him how to entertain and engage the audience. He was always very generous with advice.”
“He contributed so much to popular music,” Jagger writes. “I will miss you.”
Elton John: ‘performance was the most exciting moment of my life’
Elton John also praises Little Richard. “Without a doubt – musically, vocally and visually – he was my biggest source of inspiration,” writes the British singer on Twitter. “To see him live in my teens was the most exciting moment in my life at the time. Goosebumps, electricity and joy came from every pore.”
John also praises Little Richards biggest hit Tutti Frutti.“The first few seconds are the most explosive in music history”
More reactions from well-known artists are appearing on social media. Brian Wilson, lead singer of The Beach Boys, praises Little Richard’s talent on Twitter . “He was there from the beginning and taught us all how rock and roll works.”
— Debbie Harry/BLONDIE (@BlondieOfficial) May 9, 2020
Debbie Harry, known as the singer of Blondie, commemorates Little Richard with an old photo . KISS leader Gene Simmons also emphasizes how important the singer has been. “I had the honor of meeting Richard in his later years. He said to me, ‘I’m the architect of rock and roll.’ Amen! Rest in peace. “
I’m very sorry to hear about Little Richard. He was there at the beginning and showed us all how to rock and roll. He was a such a great talent and will be missed. Little Richard’s music will last forever.
— Brian Wilson (@BrianWilsonLive) May 9, 2020
Love & Mercy, Brian pic.twitter.com/kcak6Rf4Re
Little Richard scored big hits in the fifties with records like Tutti Frutti and Long Tall Sally . The singer is often mentioned in the same breath with icons such as Jerry Lee Lewis and Elvis Presley.