The message Little Richard never got to pass onto Jimi Hendrix
As a guitarist, Jimi Hendrix’s playing was nothing short of revolutionary. His indomitable style was something that nobody else had witnessed prior, and very few since have successfully emulated in a way that felt quite as earth-shattering as when he initially became known. To put it simply, he was nothing short of a naturally gifted genius.
Similarly, the same could be said of Little Richard as a frontman and performer. A man whose presence was electric to the point of disbelief – it seemed impossible that one person could simultaneously possess such energy and charisma while belting out songs with far more vigour than anyone else could muster up. Little Richard was also, quite frankly, blessed with the same gift as Hendrix was.
When you’re talking about the endeavours of Jimi Hendrix and Little Richard, they were indisputably two of the finest of their kind to ever live, but despite greatness often being able to recognise greatness, one of the two held deep regrets for not telling the other how much talent they thought they possessed.
After having recruited Hendrix to perform as a member of his backing band during the 1960s, Richard would soon become frustrated that the man he asked to play second fiddle to his extravagant performances would continually try to upstage him, flaunting his flamboyant guitar playing to a degree where Richard’s own majesty would be detracted from. Coupled with the fact that Hendrix had more than a few issues with his punctuality, Richard grew tired of having him in the band and subsequently fired him.
This may not have been the direct reason for Hendrix going on to succeed as a solo artist for a brief period before his untimely death in 1970, but it was evident that both would be fine without one stealing the thunder of the other during live performances. However, Richard later realised that in dismissing Hendrix from his band, The Upsetters, he lost out on the opportunity to tell him how much belief he has in his ability.
In a fantastic clip from the 1973 documentary Jimi Hendrix, Richard would be effusive in his praise about the late guitarist, heralding him as a star in the most typically histrionic fashion you would expect from him and employing some unusual vernacular in the process.
“Jimi Hendrix could play that rock and roll,” enthuses Richard in the clip, “He had that thing a rumpin’ and tumpin’ all up under my toes. At times, he used to make my big toe shoot up in my boot.” Richard would continue to say how much he admired Hendrix’s style, both in terms of his musicianship and how he “didn’t mind looking freaky,” something he would say was a trait that he had gained from being in his company.
After saying that Hendrix always had the ambition to take people “higher”, quickly adding that he believed it would be a greater high than any narcotic could provide, he said that he was regretful about the fact that he “never got the chance to see him after he made it.”
“I had something to tell him, and I never did,” said Richard, “So now I just have to talk about it and let him know it was good. I just want to let him know I knew he was gonna make it.” Whether it was too late or not, if receiving praise from one of the greatest entertainers to have ever lived isn’t indicative of sheer talent, then goodness knows what is.
