After watching this clip from the 1973 documentary about Jimi Hendrix (appropriately titled Jimi Hendrix), I simply have to say that Little Richard may very well be the single greatest individual ever. Don’t believe me? Well, then watch the above clip, sucker!
Special thanks to Sid Hillman, Greg Vincent, and Thom Arredondo for showing me this clip back in the awesome days at UCLA’s Audio Visual Services (AVS). It has been stuck in my mind for a solid 15 years.



Little Richard, all rootie!
Now there is a performer of the highest order….”cocaine, piece a grass, some herowan….
Gardner,
Is that the documentary where you told me the story with Bruce Springsteen and the East Street band playing as the pickup band for Chuck Berry, and when they asked him what they are going to play, he says in response “We’re gonna play some Chuck Berry songs!” If so, I quote that story all the time, and love it, and I am an imposter because I do need to see the movie so I can stop leeaching off your genius
Believe Little Richard.
The scenes with Richard and Bo and Chuck are beyond description and beyond praise. They’re such champions. And there are some extraordinary moments of surreality in this film, from the bit with Springsteen to a scene with Jerry Lee Lewis recounting how his mother told him that “you and Elvis, you’re all right, but you’re no Chuck Berry.”
Must see! Then we can quote bits to each other and howl.