Bruce Springsteen called Little Richard the purest rock and roll voice of all time.
This isn’t the first time Springsteen has paid homage to Little Richard as a seminal force in rock music, for his sound or his raw intensity and cultural influence.
Springsteen once said of Little Richard: “This is the purest rock ‘n’ roll sound ever.” “It belongs to Georgia Beach, the king of rock ‘n’ roll. He’s one of the founding fathers of rock ‘n’ roll, an outstanding vocal genius.”
He went on to credit Richard with reshaping popular culture itself, saying he had come “to take the nation, the world, and your body and soul by storm.”
While Springsteen built his career on passion, storytelling, and emotional urgency rather than artistic refinement, what defines Little Richard, in Springsteen’s view, is the complete lack of restraint in his voice.
His songs are like Tall Sally and Lucille It was all about energy and attitude, not polish. This style influenced generations of rock singers, from Robert Plant and Steven Tyler to others who emphasized raw power.
While many singers have tried to match this intensity, few have succeeded, Springsteen said. He described Little Richard as not only influential, but truly unique. He describes him as one of the few artists who permanently changed the sound, spirit and influence of rock and roll.