Little Richard - Interview

LR: I was born into a poor situation. My mother had twelve children, and we didn't have no table like this [motions to the table], no food like this. We had only two bedrooms in the house for twelve people. Some situations you cause yourself. Why bring children into a bad situation? I think you should be able to take care of your own. I also think that what's wrong with all of us is that we don't show enough love toward each other. We need to stop saying, Me! I! I! I!

PG: O.K. You've said God takes care of all people. What about gay people?

LR: All people--whether you're crippled, blind, black, white, red, brown, yellow, Italian, Jewish, whatever. God lets his sun shine on all of us, regardless of what anyone else may think. God gives all people love regardless of what they are.

PG: What do you think of people who say that God doesn't love gay people?

LR: Well, I won't even try to speak for them. That's their problem. I don't have anything to do with them. But God loves them, too.

PG: [laughs] Good answer.

LR: Thank you.

PG: One more tiny question. Where did "Awop-bop-a-loo-bop-awop-bam-boom" come from?

LR: "Awop-bop-a-loo-mop-alop-bam-boom" came from Macon, Georgia [laughs], and it's been traveling ever since.

PG: How did you think it up?

LR: One night I forgot some words to a song, and those words came to me. It was my first big hit. "Tutti frutti, aw rootie." I thank God for those words. And I'd like to end your program by thanking you for coming out. And I'd like to give my love to everybody, and let them know that the grass may look greener on the other side, but believe me, it's just as hard to cut. And I'd just like to leave them with "Awop-bop-a-loo-mop-alop-bam-boom!"

COPYRIGHT 1994 Brant Publications, Inc.
COPYRIGHT 2004 Gale Group