Rock ‘n’ roll legend Little Richard thrills, surprises audience in Myrtle Beach

By Wade Allen
Editor
Oct. 1, 2009

Photo by Wade Allen

Little Richard, who has been called the “Emancipator of Rock ‘n’ Roll,” appears at the Alabama Theatre in Myrtle Beach, S.C. on Sept. 26. The 76 year old pounded the piano through 50 years of number one hits including “Tutti Frutti,” “Long Tall Sally,” “Good Golly Miss Molly,” “Jenny Jenny,” and “Lucille.”

Rock ‘n’ roll hall of fame member Little Richard, who will be 77 years old in December, proved to the audience that age is just a number when he appeared in-concert at the Alabama Theatre in Myrtle Beach, S.C., on Sept. 26.

The “Emancipator of Rock ‘n’ Roll” played to a nearly sold-out crowd, consisting of people of all races and ages.

Late start
The concert, scheduled to start at 7 p.m., did not begin until 7:45 p.m. Little Richard was taken in and out of the theatre at the stage door in a wheelchair, accompanied by four bodyguards. When the concert began, Little Richard said that he suffered from hip problems and planned on having a hip replacement soon.

“When you have these problems, you feel like you’ve got two hips,” Little Richard said, sparking laughter throughout the crowd. “Shut up,” he said joking, making the audience laugh even more.

When the show began, the purple stage curtains opened to reveal the legend himself sitting at the piano with a full, sevenmember band backing him up. The instruments the band played consisted of three saxophones, two bass guitars, a piano and two drum sets, complete with elaborate cymbals.

Costume
Little Richard, always noted for his elaborate, over-the-top wardrobe, wore a lime green striped suit with a sequined shirt underneath. He wore a wig on his head and two sequined slippers donned his feet. At one point during the show, he took a pair of gold sunglasses out of his pocket and wore them.

“I’m so glad that the Lord has allowed me to be here and play for you tonight,” Little Richard said.

Hit parade
In 2004, Little Richard was ranked No. 8 on Rolling Stone’s list of 100 greatest artists of alltime and never was this more evident that on Sept. 26.

The crowd watched in amazement as Little Richard tore through a list of hit songs that made him a household name.

Among the songs played were “Good Golly Miss Molly,” “Tutti Frutti,” Jenny Jenny,” “Long Tall Sally,” “Slippin’ and Slidin’,” and what appeared to be the crowd favorite, “Lucille.”

His hands pounded the keyboard as the drummers would throw their sticks into the air on the off-beat. The three saxophone players swayed back and forth as the music exploded from their instruments.

“Repeat after me,” Little Richard said, as he prepared to play “Tutti Frutti.” “A’ wop-bop a lou-bop, and not Pat Boone.”

Special gift
Little Richard announced that he had a gift for everyone in the audience and they could pick it up at the doors as they left.

The gift was a paperback book about salvation through Jesus Christ and in the inside front cover of each one, there was a four by six inch black and white autographed picture of Little Richard.

“Here take one when you leave, it’s free, and look, inside here is this beautiful autographed picture,” Little Richard said.

He also gave out several posters of himself during the concert to people on the first row.

Respect
The music icon retained his dignity during the whole concert, despite his health problems. The curtains closed while he was still seated on the piano stool and the audience never saw the wheelchair that he relied on.

When Little Richard was taken out of the theatre to the awaiting white limousine, his head bodyguard did not allow pictures because, “he didn’t want anybody to see him like that [wheelchair bound].”

Something to do
Myrtle Beach, S.C. is approximately two hours from the UNCP campus.

Many legendary singing artists perform concerts there at various venues including the Alabama Theatre, the House of Blues and plaza at the Hard Rock Café.

Many Myrtle Beacharea venues have websites that list upcoming events that provide weekend outings for students.