Good Golly! Little Richard Plays a Free Show

September 20

Little Richard: entertainer, comedian, and preacher

At 75, he's still got it. He hits every high-pitched "woooooh" flawlessly.

Little Richard played a 90-minute set outside the Reagan Building, in part pounding out his hits such as "Good Golly, Miss Molly," "Lucille," "Long Tall Sally" and a bit of "Tutti Frutti," and in large part being a ham with the crowd. "Shut up."

He emerged on crutches, due to a leg giving him some trouble, in a sequined suit and flashing a smile. During his set, he also paid tribute to some of his musical heroes, covering Fats Domino and the late Ray Charles.

A brash and daring soul, Richard snuck in a few comments that may have made some of the more politically correct in this town cringe but most in this crowd just laughed and hollered.

It was impossible for me to stand still during this show. Was jumpin' and twistin' the whole time. My momma raised me on this music. She fondly would recount her childhood days going to the Alan Freed Rock 'n' Roll shows at the Paramount Theatre in Brooklyn. The kids would all stand on the seats and dance manically, she said, particularly to Little Richard and Bo Diddly.

Opening act the Jewels were the perfect complement, playing some great covers and a few of their originals such as their 1964 hit "Opportunity." The doowop band, fronted by three charismatic ladies, turned the place into a veritable club circa 1965.

This free-to-the-public show was the finale of an evening concert series called D.C. Grooves, sponsored by the D.C. Commission on the Arts and Humanities.