If ever there were a musician worthy of the retrospective documentary treatment, it’s Little Richard, the culture-shaping star whose life was filled with career milestones, controversies, and contradictions.
Thankfully, filmmaker Lisa Cortés is doing just that with her buzzy new doc, Little Richard: I Am Everything.
Born Richard Wayne Penniman, the artist grew up in Macon, Georgia with a large, religious, working-class family. It’s at church that Richard first fell in love with music, particularly the enthusiastic performances from gospel singers.
After being discovered by the “godmother of rock ‘n’ roll” Sister Rosetta Tharpe as a teen, Richard began performing on his own—sometimes in drag! His raw talent and charisma soon earned him a record deal, and the rest was history.
How about we take this to the next level?
Our newsletter is like a refreshing cocktail (or mocktail) of LGBTQ+ entertainment and pop culture, served up with a side of eye-candy.
But that history is decidedly complicated. Breaking through with raucous, raunchy singles like “Tutti Frutti” and “Long Tall Sally,” Richard was actively changing the sound—and the face—of popular music, but much of his success would go on to be attributed to the white musicians who were influenced by him.
And, as a Black queer man, his flamboyance was something that was both celebrated and lambasted. Of course, there’s the question over how Richard might’ve labeled his own sexuality—if at all—which changed frequently over the years. Near the end of his life, the musician had denounced his homosexuality, calling it “unnatural.”
Related*
For all of these reasons (and more), Little Richard’s legacy is one that’s been tough to grapple with, but Cortés’ documentary—which we had the pleasure of seeing earlier this year at the Sundance Film Festival—is unafraid of exploring its subject’s conflicted soul, while also showing us how he paved the way for… well, all of us!
Bursting with life thanks to new performances of Little Richard’s burn-burning hits, I Am Everything brings deeper context to the life and career of this pioneer, featuring interviews with industry experts, colleagues, and luminaries of the LGBTQ+ community like John Waters and Billy Porter.
Little Richard: I Am Everything will receive a special one-night-only presentation in select theaters on April 11, with a wider theatrical rollout and digital release on April 21.
You can check out the film’s toe-tapping new trailer below:
Related*
Gay wrestlers, nude beaches, and more: Our 10 favorite LGBTQ+ movies from Sundance 2023
Little Richard, Anne Hathaway’s best-ever performance, and a sexy love triangle are among our Sundance ’23 favorites.
Kangol2
Little Richard paved the way for everyone who’s come along after him, Black, White, all races, ethnicities, straight, gay, bi, trans, in a range of musical forms and genres related to and deriving from rock and roll, the blues, rhythm and blues, pop, and on and on. He was so far ahead of his time he ended up a little behind it at the end of his life, but whatever struggles he had, he should be acknowledged and championed as one of the greats who pioneered music that has brought joy and new modes of expression to people in this country and all over the globe. Thank you, Little Richard Penniman!
abfab
Right on! Nice piece, Kangol.
Huron132
I have been a great fan of Little Richard ever since I saw him with my parents at a hole in the wall bar in Daytona Beach in the mid 70’s I was in my teens. Actually we had been to a drag illusion show upstairs in the Hotel. After the show we were leaving and my mom heard someone that sounded like Little Richard. She went in and seen him performing by himself. We all went in and heard his set. A couple of days later we went to see him again and heard his whole set. Some of the performers from the illusion show were there as well. I got Little Richards autograph. It was an amazing show watching him perform. Also that night my parents invited a few of the illusion performers to a BBQ we where having the next day. At that BBQ I was blessed with 3 new aunties who were drag performers. When I came out to my parents3-4 years later. I was so blessed to be loved and was told as long as I was happy they where happy.
JRamonMc
Great story about a memory that will live with you forever. Thanks for sharing!
Kangol2
Beautiful story, Huron132. Thanks for sharing it.
abfab
Wow, now that’s a great memory and showbiz experience. Thanks for telling it. He was a force of Nature.
jaimedance3
What the hell should many of us care about this man who did not care about his own community and blatantly said he was not bi and he was not gay! I didn’t even care when the man died!
abfab
We can’t all be as sane (or as dull) as you. Please forgive the entertainer. It’s a jungle out there.
peacefulruffneck
Little Richard frequented Aunt Kizzy’s Back Porch in Marina Del Rey in the 90’s and early 2000’s and he would come out of that flashy Rolls Royce of his and wave and greet every patron as he walked in to have lunch or an early dinner. We were a group of bodybuilders who ate at KooKooRoo Chicken right next store and he never failed to swing by and say hello. He was a gracious kind person- a little flirty but a lot of self deprecating fun.
I had the feeling he grew up in such an oppressive era that much like Liberace he just didn’t feel comfortable using “gay” to describe his sexuality. He was decades ahead of his time as a “genderqueer”. Regardless of his sexuality it was clear he enjoyed being flamboyant Little Richard and good for him for having that courage. It could not have been easy coming from Macon, GA as a young black man to get where he got. Thanks for this story-it was far more enjoyable than the Madison Cawthorn or Ivana Trump stories.
abfab
Feel free to write more about your group of bodybuilders, ruffneck, while I go fetch a sedative. I’m serious. That was a special time for muslcemen like you down the beach. Love your story. X
bachy
Majorly looking forward to this new doc! Little Richard was an explosive creative force, too big to be contained by any box.
Jay002
Little Richard’s father used to beat him for being queen if you can find a clip of the Donnie Osmond talk show Richard breaks down talking about it. Maybe that is the reason he was not a leader for the gay community..
Thad
Listen to Little Richard’s “Without Love.” It’s on YouTube (like everything else!) And it’s wonderful.