A passagem de Little Richard – autoproclamado “o arquiteto do rock’n’roll” – fez toda a geração do rock clássico dos anos 60 vir a público reverenciá-lo. Dois gigantes, Paul e Dylan, escreveram textos emotivos saudando sua importância em suas contas no Twitter. Disse Paul:

“De ‘Tutti Frutti’ a ‘Long Tall Sally’, de ‘Good Golly, Miss Molly’ a ‘Lucille’, Little Richard entrou gritando na minha vida quando eu era adolescente. Devo muito ao que faço a Little Richard e seu estilo; e ele sabia disso. Ele dizia: “Ensinei a Paul tudo o que ele sabia”.

Tenho que admitir que ele tem razão. No começo dos Beatles, tocamos com Richard em Hamburgo e pudemos conhecê-lo. Ele nos deixava ficar em seu camarim, onde testemunhávamos seus rituais antes do show, com a cabeça debaixo de uma toalha sobre uma tigela de água quente fumegante e de repente, ele levantava a cabeça em direção ao espelho e dizia: ‘Não posso evitar, porque sou muito bonito’. E era. Um grande homem com um adorável senso de humor e alguém que fará falta pela comunidade do rock and roll e muito mais.

Agradeço a ele tudo o que ele me ensinou e a gentileza que demonstrou ao me deixar ser seu amigo. Adeus, Richard e a-wop-bop-a-loo-bop”

Depois disse Dylan:

“Acabei de ouvir as notícias sobre Little Richard e estou muito triste. Ele era minha estrela brilhante e a luz que guiava de volta quando eu era apenas um garotinho. O espírito dele era o que me levou a fazer tudo o que fiz.

Fiz alguns shows com ele na Europa no início dos anos 90 e ficava muito tempo com ele em seu camarim. Ele sempre foi generoso, gentil e humilde. E ainda era explosivo como intérprete e músico, você ainda pode aprender muito com ele.

Na presença dele, ele sempre foi o mesmo Little Richard que eu ouvi pela primeira vez e fiquei impressionado ao crescer e eu sempre fui o mesmo menino. Claro que ele viverá para sempre. Mas é como se parte de nossas vidas fosse embora.”

Veja outras homenagens de nossos ídolos ao seu ídolo:

pic.twitter.com/uvyhO0uNtA

— Mick Jagger (@MickJagger) May 9, 2020

So sad to hear that my old friend Little Richard has passed. There will never be another!!! He was the true spirit of Rock’n Roll! pic.twitter.com/yU1EJmjejU

— Keith Richards (@officialKeef) May 9, 2020

RIP Little Richard, a very sad loss. My thoughts are with his loved ones.⁣
⁣
It’s Little Richard’s songs that pioneered rock’n’roll. I got to hear him and his band at the Newport Lounge in Miami and boy were they good. ⁣ pic.twitter.com/JXgahhJAfk

— Jimmy Page (@JimmyPage) May 9, 2020

https://twitter.com/BrianWilsonLive/status/1259138765420990464

God bless little Richard one of my all-time musical heroes. Peace and love to all his family. 😎✌️🌟❤️🎵🎶💕☮️ pic.twitter.com/H2lzKbX3tm

— #RingoStarr (@ringostarrmusic) May 9, 2020

MESSAGE FROM IGGY: „Dear Little Richard, thank you, RIP”

— Iggy Pop (@IggyPop) May 9, 2020

Little Richard changed everything for me. When he came over the airwaves the world was never the same.

— Robbie Robertson (@r0bbier0berts0n) May 10, 2020

Rest in Peace, Little Richard
love, yoko pic.twitter.com/VKa6bdsNxo

— Yoko Ono (@yokoono) May 9, 2020

#LittleRichard
Rest in peace and power. pic.twitter.com/6rVEwF5AEd

— Carole King (@Carole_King) May 9, 2020

Absolutely heartbroken this morning at also hearing the news of the passing of my bro & friend, the great Little Richard.  From our connection through our mutual mentor, Bumps Blackwell, to recording “Money Is” & “Do It To It” for the $ soundtrack, to…https://t.co/jeHNYYobEP pic.twitter.com/aEJEQVuNN9

— Quincy Jones (@QuincyDJones) May 9, 2020

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Without a doubt – musically, vocally and visually – he was my biggest influence. Seeing him live in my teens was the most exciting event in my life at that point. Goosebumps, electricity and joy came from every pore. His records still sound fresh and the opening few seconds of “Tutti Frutti” are the most explosive in music history. I was lucky enough to work with him for my “Duets” album in 1993. He was shy and funny and I was SO nervous. The track we recorded “The Power” is a favourite in my catalogue. We also played live at the Beverly Hilton and I felt like I’d died and gone to heaven. He influenced so many and is irreplaceable. A true legend, icon and a force of nature. #RIP Little Richard Love, Elton x #LittleRichard

A post shared by Elton John (@eltonjohn) on May 9, 2020 at 10:08am PDT

The loss of a true giant. My sincerest condolences go out to his family and friends. https://t.co/nzTDmQtLm7

— Nile Rodgers (@nilerodgers) May 9, 2020

https://twitter.com/SpikeLeeJoint/status/1259148330128424960

Little Richard was a performer so riveting, so extraordinary, that #JimiHendrix was his sideman and #JamesBrown his opening act. THANKYOU for everything. THANKYOU for rock n roll. https://t.co/9AiUcBaOhk

— Tom Morello (@tmorello) May 9, 2020

https://twitter.com/KristNovoselic/status/1259144051460157440

“Wasn’t I wonderful?!” — Little Richard, after telling him I loved his show when I met him in the ‘90s. Yes. Yes, you were. Long live Little Richard! pic.twitter.com/ziiVNo4Phh

— Jeff Tweedy (@JeffTweedy) May 9, 2020

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The King Of Rock And Roll. Zero Questions. Journalists Do Your Job. Not ARCHITECT not PIONEER. not HITMAKER. This man was literally THE BLUEPRINT of all the world took from. LITTLE RICHARD is THE TRUE KING. LONG LIVE THE KING.

A post shared by Questlove Froman, (@questlove) on May 9, 2020 at 7:15am PDT

Tags: bob dylan, little richard, paul mccartney