Little Richard sang songs like Good Golly, Miss Molly and Lucille – but very few people know that the same rhythm & blues pioneer claimed an experience with the divine back in 1957.
The singer made rock music famous. He also had an epiphany during one of his concerts that almost made him give up the entire music industry.
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According to reports, he ‘saw God’ in 1957.
Here’s what happened to make the musician change genres, and why he turned from musician to preacher.
Who was Little Richard?
Little Richard was born Richard Wayne Penniman in 1932.
He’s considered one of rock music’s founders.
His career started by singing in church as young man. Later, he would discover local clubs and branch into performing more.
The path soon led to his hit song ‘Tutti Fruity’, and a career as rock pioneer.
Rolling Stone called him the ‘Handsomest Man in Rock & Roll’ at his height.
How Little Richard ‘saw God’ in 1957
Little Richard says he ‘saw God’ in 1957.
During a Sydney concert, Richard reports that he saw a bright fireball appear during his performance. It could only have been God, says the singer, who soon converted to Christanity – and studied to become a preacher.
After this event, he encouraged others in burning his previous albums.
Now, said Little Richard, he no longer wanted to play what he called the ‘devil’s music’ anymore.
Musicians and Christanity
Little Richard isn’t the first musician who changed his mind about faith.
Bob Dylan did something similar, passing around information about Christanity at his concerts after his conversion. Musician Cat Stevens converted to Islam, changing his name to Yusuf Islam.
Can you think of any musicians who changed their industry for their faith?
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