The Life And Times Of Little Richard: The Authorized Biography (Omnibus Press) (Paperback)

~ Charles White (Author) "I first met my husband, Bud Penniman, at a holy meeting in Macón, Georgia, when I was just thirteen years old..." (more)
Key Phrases: steel gtr, baritone sax, tenor sax, Little Richard, Tutti Frutti, New York (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

The classic authorized biography that told it all. When Little Richard burst onto the scene in the early 1950s, he sounded like nothing on earth. Drenched in sweat, screaming, hollering and pumping his piano, his stage act was so explosive that for years people assumed the real man could never match the flamboyant public image. Then came Charles White’s sensational book exposing the even more astonishing life and times of Richard Wayne Penniman from Georgia. Little Richard made himself a star through sheer force of personality, breaking racial and sexual taboos on his way to becoming the primal force of Fifties rock ‘n’ roll. Elvis Presley called him ‘the greatest’. Otis Redding called him his ‘inspiration’ and James Brown called him his idol. Charles White is the only author to have captured the true energy of Little Richard. Using Richard’s own words, White chronicles a staggering career that spanned the very rules of rock ‘n’ roll, the rise of The Beatles, tussles with God and The Devil and an erratic series of comebacks. Illustrated with pictures from Little Richard’s own archive and including a comprehensive discography.

About the Author

Charles White, better known as Dr Rock, is official biographer to both Little Richard and Jerry Lee Lewis. Born in Dublin in 1942, he studied medicine in the Sixties and then moved to Scarborough where he still lives. He is both a writer and broadcaster, and a recognized expert on early rock’n’roll.

Product Details

• Paperback: 332 pages
• Publisher: Omnibus Press; 3rd edition (August 1, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0711997616
• ISBN-13: 978-0711997615
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5.1 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #684,895 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars STUNNING, BRUTALLY HONEST PORTRAIT OF A LEGEND, January 14, 2007

By	B. Robyn Donison (Fort Qu'Appelle, Saskatchewan Canada) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Little Richard was more than any other artist, the start of rock n roll music. He inspired generations of r&b, rock, and soul artists and set the wheels in motion for James Brown and the development of funk. Elvis called him an inspiration and the greatest, James Brown called him his idol, Smokey called him the start of that funky, drivin, never-let-up rock and roll, Ray Charles called him the man that started a kind of music that set the pace for a lot of what's happenein today, Jimi Hendrix said he wanted to do with his guitar what Little Richard did with his voice. Considering Richard's pivotal role in the formation of modern music, it is sad that this is the only biographical or autobiographical book that is available to the public. Far more than recall the early days in the formation of the most important art form of the twentieth century, this semi-autobiographical work is a brutally frank testimony of Richard's difficult 'wild years' and the poignant return to the born-again Christian faith in which he was raised by his mother. Love him or loathe him, he remains the heart and soul of rock n roll. And almost 55 years from his first recordings (in the early 1950's) he still can rock (check out his 2002 tribute to the late Johnny Cash on 'Kindred Spirits' and his 2005 recording with Jerry Lee Lewis on the upcoming release 'The Pilgrim'.) May God continue to bless Little Richard!!

WARNING - This is brutally frank, open, honest portrait of a remarkable man, and, despite the tesitmony of his born again Christian converstion in the final chapters, some of the material would be considered offensive. It is definately for mature readers.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Updated story; downgraded sessiongraphy-discography, August 30, 2003

By A Customer

Despite what VH1-type music channels imply, Little Richard is the most influential rock artist of all time. This book does not fully explore the *musical* reason for that statement, but remains, almost 19 years after its' launch, perhaps the most literate pop music biography.
It's amazing that so many rock culture writers apparently have not seriously referenced this book and learned of the importance of LR to RR. For example, book after book on the Beatles and Jimi Hendrix, for example, still use Richard as a quirky, eccentric, gender-bending footnote - yeah, way in the beginning, they dug his flambouyance...McCartney was doing Richard on "Sgt. Pepper", folks.
Too bad that in some ways this book mirrors the sometimes confused and misguided career of its' subject - talking strictly about the ever-important recording session section. It surely appears that the current publisher used the original erroneous collation done by someone other than Mr. White. Simply put, there are too many obvious editing mistakes for that section to be taken seriously.
I hope Omnibus Press can correct this disappointing feature.
On the other hand, this edition adds some wonderful rare photographs and an interesting contribution by "Lifetime Friend" album producer Stuart Colman.

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the Fathers of Modern Pop Music, July 2, 2008

By	[e-mail] "mistermaxxx" (usa) - See all my reviews (TOP 50 REVIEWER)

Little Richard is truly ne of a Kind artist. whatever you see today pretty much is in debt to his importance as a Musician, style maker trend-setter and Original swag that started way back. this Book is very direct and frank and he pulls no punches. fellow legendary artists pay there respects and speak on his importance and what he meant then and now. Little Richard is truly an American Original and he has so much insight and so much to speak on then and now. a must read. He is Rock and Roll Royality.