Little Richard: I Am Everything

A 2023 Max documentary on the famed flamboyant progenitor of all things rock 'n' roll. Reared & raised in meager straits, Richard would find himself into music emulating a gay performer (donning a big pompadour & wearing make-up) who toured the chitlin circuit which prompted him to do the same where he made a killing until he found out white performers like Elvis Presley & Pat Boone would outsell his releases when they re-recorded his tunes. Gaining fans from the unlikeliest of places; England (in the form of the Beatles & Stones) Richard was soon on his way musically but his own personal demons; being gay & non-secular at the same time would dog him for the rest of his career sometimes where he'd renounce his sexuality for the church & vice versa but his real annoyance came in the form of not being recognized for his sizable, quantifiable influence on rock music (witness the montage of artists he influenced w/Harry Styles himself wearing gender bending clothes appealing to the masses) which was hopefully rectified by the end of his life. Using audio interviews & archival footage of the man himself you'd be hard pressed to not have him be the eternal life of the party whose thumping sound & grandiose behavior enchanting & delighting all.

This is a great and well done rockumentary. Little Richard was such a deeply complex and talented and conflicted individual. This movie, produced by CNN, captures very effectively the many facets of his life a career. Through archival footage, interviews old and new, and storytelling we learn about the musical influence of this trailblazer who impacted the Beatles, Otis Redding, The Rolling Stones, Elvis, Prince, Michael Jackson, and more. We also see the painful conflict regarding Little Richard's deeply complex relationship with himself-with his image, with his sexuality, and his relationship with God. This is a moving film. I loved it.

Sometimes it takes a movie to help set the record straight. And, when it comes to designating who truly is the king of rock 'roll, this documentary from director Lisa Cortes does just that. Richard Wayne Penniman - professionally known as Little Richard (1932-2020) - burst onto the pop music scene in the mid-1950s with a singular, unrestrained, high-energy style that set him apart from other aspiring performers at the time, achieving tremendous success with hits like "Tutti Fruitti" and "Long Tall Sally," among others. However, even though he developed a strong following and a reputation for chart-busting releases, he never quite attained the widespread notoriety of others, like Elvis Presley and Pat Boone, particularly when they covered his hits. He also didn't achieve the financial success that he deserved, thanks to record labels that gave him raw deals. What's more, as a flamboyant, openly gay Black musician at a time when those qualities were far from well tolerated, he became a target for ostracism and scorn from conservative circles, whose leaders spouted inflammatory claims that he was undermining the moral fabric of traditional American culture with his "decadent" music and "perverted" lifestyle. Yet his blend of colorful performances, mixed with outlandish costumes, pancake makeup and frenetic stage antics and backed by tunes that fused boogie woogie, rhythm & blues and gospel, made him a standout, a style that countless artists drew from - and openly acknowledged his influence - when they emerged in their own right, many of whom are interviewed in the film in archive footage or recent conversations. The result here is a revelatory examination of someone who set a standard but who never received the degree of recognition he merited until many years after his debut on the music scene. "Little Richard: I Am Everything" features a wealth of historical footage, including many interviews with the artist himself, along with observations from the likes of Mick Jagger, Billy Porter, Paul McCartney, Tom Jones, Nona Hendryx and superfan filmmaker John Watters, as well as an array of music industry, African-American and gay community historians. Viewers are likely to come away from this offering knowing a lot about Little Richard that they hadn't known previously, enabling them to gain a new appreciation for the rock icon and learning much about the many triumphs and challenges he faced during his colorfully enigmatic life. Audiences are sure to come away from this one proclaiming "Long live rock - and the king who finally gets to wear his much-deserved crown."

I admit I was a bit apprehensive, an hour and forty one minutes to see a film about Little Richard. But the longer I watched the more invested I got. It may not be for all tastes but for all of us who appreciate music and its evolution, this is a great little film.

Little Richard was 13 when I was born, I grew up with the music of the 1950s and 1960s but was never a fan of his music. Not because he was black, Ray Charles, Johnny Mathis, and Nat 'King' Cole were among my favorites, I just never cared for Rock and Roll. It wasn't what I enjoyed listening to.

However, as we look back, and this film points out vividly, Little Richard, from Macon Georgia, was the spark that changed everything. He was the father of Rock and Roll. Not that he intended to, just by his own interests and creativity it came about. During a trip to England in the early 1960s he met up with some of his biggest fans, a little group of four, yet unrecorded, musicians who we now know as The Beatles. His musical influence is far and wide.

His life was a very rocky road and this film covers all that. He died just a few years ago, his legacy is solid.

At home, on DVD from my public library.

This perceptive documentary on the career and importance of Little Richard transcends the typical pop music tribute in the breadth and depth of its treatment -kudos to director Lisa Cortes.

It concisely covers many topics relevant to his rise as well as the roadblocks that were placed in his way. Being Black, Gay and a rebel added up to his becoming a revolutionary figure in popular culture. And the selection of interviewees, some famous, some less so, but all knowledgeable about facets of his life.

From his earliest influences and colleagues to the early White ripoffs of his songs starting with "Tutti Frutti" by Elvis and Pat Boone, and ultimately by an adoring Paul McCartney, the movie traces a circuitous history of a legendary performer.

His international influences are attested to by McCarthy, Mick Jagger, Tom Jones and many others -all ringing true.

Then later his turning to religion and getting involved with drugs and falling into poverty, ultimately turning against his gay identity. What emerges in this carefully crafted and structured documentary is a complex personality, living up to its title.