The Songs - Tutti Frutti
This is the the third entry in my ongoing “songs that visited me, and decided they wanted to stay” series. I hope you like these enough to become a paid subscriber.
Tutti Frutti - Little Richard
“Honey, I’m the man that started it all. The Emancipator of Soul and the King of Rock & Roll, from Macon, Georgia. I want you to know that I’m here to be offered tonight in the fullness. That the beauty is still on duty. Let it all hang out with the beautiful Little Richard from down in Macon, Georgia. I want you all to know that I am the Georgia Peach. Let all the womenfolk say, Whooooo! Let all the men say, Ugh! Oooh, my soul….Shut up! I am the star. And don’t you ever forget it.”
—Little Richard
Awopbopaloobop alopbamboom!
The big bang of rock and roll.
It didn’t exist. And then, all of a sudden, it did. The greatest art form of the 20th century, invented on the fly by a gay black man (when it wasn’t safe to be either) from Macon, Georgia, who eventually styled himself both the king AND queen of rock and roll.
The man was speaking in tongues. His mouth never stopped. And when he ran out of words, rather than the sin of silence, he made up his own.
Awopbopaloobop alopbamboom!