So apparently Art Rupe at Specialty Records sent his talent scout out looking for a Ray Charles sound-alike... it's a bit of a mystery then ended up with the frenetic, flamboyant, openly gay, Little Richard.
I suppose that there are hints of the Ray Charles sound in some of the music but, good lord there's so much more energy! It's like if Ray Charles and 'Screaming' Jay Hawkins had a musical child together. I mean how many albums start with such a 'straight out of the gate' smack in the face line like 'tutti frutti's' "Wop-bop-a-loom-a-boom-bam-boom!"
There are some musical similarities to someone like Fats Domino too, but the sheer force of Little Richard's energy and charisma carries the music so much further!
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