I was watching a Behind the Music show on the year 1984 which talked about the release of Purple Rain that year and how it was a stellar breakout year for artists like Prince, Madonna (Like a Virgin) and Michael Jackson (Thriller).

They showed a clip of Little Richard summing Prince up stating "He looks like me, he dresses like me, he IS me". I found the statement to be appalling personally because I don't see the resemblance. What do ya'll think?

Peace, Love & Soul!

NOPE...Prince is not a modern day L.R.
He's a modern day PRINCE
yes..ur highness... i said it:love:

(remember ya'll:it ain't ova!!!)
God, I luv THAT MAN

Prince is unique.

Prince took some inspiration from LR, but he's hardly the clone that Mr. Tutti Frutti claims he is. Sly, Stevie, James, Joni, and P-Funk were all major influences as well. Little Richard is an incredible performer, but he definitely has an exagerrated view of himself.

Little Richard is Right on so many ways.Little Richard Had James Brown in His Band,Jimi Hendrix played with Him the Beatles&Rolling stones thought the World of Him&David Bowie has been quoted as saying that Little Richard was the Reason He got into the Business.the Rock-A-Billy Vibe of Little Richard you can Hear His Influence on Prince.Image Wise Prince&Morris got alot off Him.James Brown said back in 84/85 that He saw more Little Richard in Prince than Himself.it's the Whole Sexualy&Spiritual Vibe.Carlos Santana also made the Connection Between Little Richard&Prince.

The Little Richard clip from the Purple Rain opening night is FUNNY
Good points mistermaxxx.

mistermaxxx said:

Richard Penniman had JB in his band? Since when? One is from Augusta (JB), the other is from Macon (Richard) though.

Supernova said:

James was just on Parole&Him&his Crew were spotted in the Stands&Little Richard Brought them on stage&worked out a deal for James to do His thing.it was in Little Richard's Book.this was before James blew up&everything.Little Richard has had many folks come through Him.JB was a Singer for Little Richard Briefly.Little Richard was truly Taboo back in the day.James got alot off of Him.running His Band,Image to a extent&Grooming.

Little Richard claims to be the father of everyone, that's just his thing...

Say what you will but the similarity in the images of these two musicians is uncanny

Dima said:

Little Richard may toot His Horn alot but there is no denying the Man has had a Helluva Impact on Pop Culture.

There's a Hendrix documentary from the early 70's and the Little Richard clip is priceless. Just entirely out there and too much plastic surgery.

The day Little Richard plays every instrument on an album will be the day he can compare himself to Prince.


in my opinion

JamesMarshallHendrix said:

He doesn't have to for me.the Man is one of the Founding Fathers of this thing Called Rock&Roll not to Mention Many of his Peers Hold Him in High Regard.He was a Trailblazer in a Era for Black Artists when it wasn't cool to be so Brazen.He Wrote,Played,Sang&came up with the Concepts for Himself&His Band.He would drop a Fine if a Sax Player missed a Note.He was a Teacher to Many.more than many are willing to admit IMHO.to Me if Prince is seen as a Modern Day Little Richard then He has truly Made a Huge Mark on Pop Music&Culture? because anyone that knows anything about Little Richard knows that the Word Trail-Blazer,Pioneer,Legendary,etc... are mentioned alongside His Name when the Importance of Rock&Roll are mentioned.

I think overall Prince outshines a lot of his founding fathers because he took a little bit from all the masters and combined them to make himself. There is undoubtledy some Little Richard some James Brown some Elvis some Santana some Hendrix and even some Jackie Robinson some Duke Ellington some Joni Mitchell some Al Green some Beatles some Chaka Khan I mean I can go on and on. The thing I like the most is because of his ability to fuse all these talents, he comes out virtually untouchable. But yes he was definitely influenced by a lot of people and that's ok because he still managed to be incomparable Prince so that is not a diss. But he isn't a modern day anything but a modern version of himself.

adorable2 said:

Please do tell of His influences he has surpassed?

I thought his Cameo in 'Why do fools fall in love' was the funniest. I love the part when he sadi "I do do do do do do do do do do do, I DO!" that crack the hell outta me.

Harlepolis said:

Little Richard could have been a Helluva Comedian.the Guy is Madd Funny.

Everything I ever heard by Little Richard all sounds like "Tootie Fruiti." It's like he made a career off making the same song over and over. I don't mean to say he wasn't important in music history, but I do think if he had tried to do something more he might get more respect.

waterhead said:

Sounds like Hate to Me about Little Richard?? you can say that about 99% of other Pop Acts Ever!!

mistermaxxx said:

Thank you mister...cuz ya'll are tripping. Sometimes you have to stop being so far up Prince's and really look at the music history. Let's just start with the look from the 80's...huh...now look at Little Richard from the 50's...hmmm...also I watched that tv movie about Little Richard, the man went through some thangs so Prince's ass could shake his ass on stage. I think back then there was more of an appreciation for each others talents...that's why James Brown can come from little richards band...jimi hendrix and bootsy collins can come from James Brown only for bootsy to move to George Clinton...So it's not about better but Prince has some Little Richard in him...you can't say he has James Brown...and he not have Little Richard...all were influenced by each other.

Jimi was not in James Brown's band.

Bladerunner said:

you maybe right...I think was in Little Richard's band...hmmm go figure
[This message was edited Mon Aug 12 3:23:07 PDT 2002 by Rhondab]

Rhondab said:

I know there is a video with Jimi playing with the Isley Brothers and one with Jimi playing with Sam & Dave. It is pretty funny to see Jimi back there twirlin around with his guitar while the rest of the band is doing some syncopated dance moves! He was his own little nightmare even then...

DCM

PPL JIMI was in IKE & TINA TURNER'S BAND. Gawd,,,

Otis Redding, James Brown and a bunch of others practically started out as Little Richard impersonators. People can't imagine what kind of animal LR was when he was unleashed - he was black, he was "flamboyant" and he was a blaze of rock n roll energy. JB not only used him as a model, he filled in for LR on two different LR tours.

Thinking on all of this, what strikes me about these classic soulmen is their gigantic egos... LR, JB, Solomon Burke, etc... are all outright egomaniacs and have integrated this ego thing into their act.. and by now, it's so old and ritualized it's a joke. I think it's clear than when LR is screaming he is the architext, the originator, etc... he might think he is, but the whole bloated ego thing is now part of his act. He knows people expect nothing less from him... So he says things like what he said about Prince. Laugh along...

Prince is so much a synthesis of rock n soul that it's impossible to just say he's another so and so... Obviously Prince went out of his way to integrate ideas pioneered by JB, Nendrix, LR, George Clinton, etc., but he's so much more than the sum of his influences.

NOPE

I hope not

Little richard is a bitter moron that complains about getting awards?

and only has maybe 4 songs anyone ever heard of in 50 years of the business..

I also never see prince doing and re-writing your own songs for Kraft Mac & Cheese Commericals.

I hope one thing.. that Prince DROPS the make-up when he hits 50 and on.. because who wants to look like an old queen.. hey like Little Richard.

locoarts said:

He has every right to be Bitter.how would you feel if a Pat Boone&Other White Acts took your songs&Re-did them White-Washed&Became Multi-Millionaires while you were still under Contract making a Half a Cent Per Copy?? How would you feel that a Peer such as Jerry Lee Lewis gets all kinds of Love behind a Couple of Songs&one He didn't even Write? Little Richard more or Less Wrote all His Songs.Had His Own band,Image,Concept,Vibe,etc...Prince has "baby I'm A Star" out on Target used as a song."Little Red Corvette" for Cheavy.if you were watching all these things going on in the Business&folks were hoping you'd Smile&Grin about it you'd be Pissed as well? Chuck D. will break it down for you about what Little Richard is talking about if you don't understand where He is coming from?