The Upsetters were a band that played with American musician and poet Little Richard from 1953 to the early 1960s.[1] They would continue to tour and record through the late 1960s as a backing band with Otis Redding and as a solo group as well. They have been credited by James Brown and others with first putting the 'funk' in the rock and roll beat.[2]
In 1953, Little Richard, dissatisfied with his solo career, formed a road band starting with Wilburt "Lee Diamond" Smith on saxophone, who became the leader, Nathaniel "Buster" Douglas on electric guitar, Charles "Chuck" Connor on drums, and Olsie "Bassy" Robinson on bass guitar. Little Richard and the band did many club performances from 1953 to 1955. Little Richard did not record his first hit "Tutti Frutti" with the Upsetters, but he recorded it with studio musicians who had worked with Fats Domino, after he told Art Rupe, founder of Specialty Records, that he liked Fats Domino's music. He recorded a number of songs with the Upsetters such as "Keep A-Knockin'", "Ooh My Soul"and "Every night about this time" however most of his big hits in his prime were recorded with a studio band which included Lee Allen and Earl Palmer.[3]
During a concert in Australia in late 1957, Little Richard decided it was time to quit rock n' roll and devote himself to God, after he saw the Russian satellite 'Sputnik 1' fly overhead. He believed it was a sign from God to give up Rock & Roll. Specialty Records released three albums after he quit - "Here's Little Richard"(1957), "Little Richard"(1958), and "The Fabulous Little Richard" (1959). The band continued until the mid-1960s. They had songs including "Hattie Malatti" and "Mama Loochie" (1958), both sung by the band's lead sax player Wilburt Smith under the alias "Lee Diamond and the Upsetters".
References
^"The Life And Times of Little Richard" Charles White.
^Harris, Stephen Thomas Erlewine, Keith; Erlewine, Stephen Thomas; Harris, Keith (May 9, 2020). "Little Richard: 20 Essential Songs". Rolling Stone. Retrieved May 15, 2020.
^Conner, Charles; Biton, Ziv (August 1, 2015). Keep A Knockin': The Story of a Legendary Drummer. Waldorf Publishing. ISBN978-1-63443-264-1.
^"Little Richard, flamboyant rock 'n' roll pioneer, dead at 87". San Diego Union-Tribune. May 9, 2020. Retrieved May 16, 2020.
upsetters, american, band, this, article, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, improve, this, article, adding, citations, reliable, sources, unsourced, material, challenged, removed, find, sources, upsetters, american, band, news, newspape. This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources The Upsetters American band news newspapers books scholar JSTOR February 2021 Learn how and when to remove this template message The Upsetters were a band that played with American musician and poet Little Richard from 1953 to the early 1960s 1 They would continue to tour and record through the late 1960s as a backing band with Otis Redding and as a solo group as well They have been credited by James Brown and others with first putting the funk in the rock and roll beat 2 The UpsettersOriginMacon Georgia U S GenresRock and roll R amp B jump bluesYears active1953 1953 early 1960s early 1960s LabelsSpecialty Little StarPast membersLittle Richard Grady Gaines Jimi Hendrix Wilbert Lee Diamond Olse Bassey Robinson Nathniel Buster Douglas Clifford Verke Charles Chuck Connor Contents 1 Background 2 Films 3 Little Richard trades Rock N Roll for Gospel 4 References 5 External LinksBackground EditIn 1953 Little Richard dissatisfied with his solo career formed a road band starting with Wilburt Lee Diamond Smith on saxophone who became the leader Nathaniel Buster Douglas on electric guitar Charles Chuck Connor on drums and Olsie Bassy Robinson on bass guitar Little Richard and the band did many club performances from 1953 to 1955 Little Richard did not record his first hit Tutti Frutti with the Upsetters but he recorded it with studio musicians who had worked with Fats Domino after he told Art Rupe founder of Specialty Records that he liked Fats Domino s music He recorded a number of songs with the Upsetters such as Keep A Knockin Ooh My Soul and Every night about this time however most of his big hits in his prime were recorded with a studio band which included Lee Allen and Earl Palmer 3 Films EditThe band appeared in a few rock n roll movies such as The Girl Can t Help It Don t Knock the Rock and Mister Rock and Roll They did not actually play nor did Little Richard sing but they lip synched to their hits Tutti Frutti Long Tall Sally Ready Teddy The Girl Can t Help It and She s Got It from 1956 to 1957 4 Little Richard trades Rock N Roll for Gospel EditDuring a concert in Australia in late 1957 Little Richard decided it was time to quit rock n roll and devote himself to God after he saw the Russian satellite Sputnik 1 fly overhead He believed it was a sign from God to give up Rock amp Roll Specialty Records released three albums after he quit Here s Little Richard 1957 Little Richard 1958 and The Fabulous Little Richard 1959 The band continued until the mid 1960s They had songs including Hattie Malatti and Mama Loochie 1958 both sung by the band s lead sax player Wilburt Smith under the alias Lee Diamond and the Upsetters References Edit The Life And Times of Little Richard Charles White Harris Stephen Thomas Erlewine Keith Erlewine Stephen Thomas Harris Keith May 9 2020 Little Richard 20 Essential Songs Rolling Stone Retrieved May 15 2020 Conner Charles Biton Ziv August 1 2015 Keep A Knockin The Story of a Legendary Drummer Waldorf Publishing ISBN 978 1 63443 264 1 Little Richard flamboyant rock n roll pioneer dead at 87 San Diego Union Tribune May 9 2020 Retrieved May 16 2020 http rockhall com inductees little richard bio Rock and Roll Hall of Fame http www biography com people little richard 9383571External Links EditThe Upsetters discography at Discogs Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title The Upsetters American band amp oldid 1130335716, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
