The Upsetters (American band)

The Upsetters were a band that played with American musician and poet Little Richard from 1953 to the early 1960s.[1] They would continue to tour and record through the late 1960s as a backing band with Otis Redding and as a solo group as well. They have been credited by James Brown and others with first putting the 'funk' in the rock and roll beat.[2]

The Upsetters
OriginMacon, Georgia, U.S.
Genres
Years active1953 (1953) – early 1960s (early 1960s)
LabelsSpecialty, Little Star
Past membersLittle Richard
Grady Gaines
Jimi Hendrix
Wilbert Lee Diamond
Olse "Bassey" Robinson
Nathniel "Buster" Douglas
Clifford Verke
Charles "Chuck" Connor

Background

In 1953, Little Richard, dissatisfied with his solo career, formed a road band starting with Wilburt "Lee Diamond" Smith on saxophone, who became the leader, Nathaniel "Buster" Douglas on electric guitar, Charles "Chuck" Connor on drums, and Olsie "Bassy" Robinson on bass guitar. Little Richard and the band did many club performances from 1953 to 1955. Little Richard did not record his first hit "Tutti Frutti" with the Upsetters, but he recorded it with studio musicians who had worked with Fats Domino, after he told Art Rupe, founder of Specialty Records, that he liked Fats Domino's music. He recorded a number of songs with the Upsetters such as "Keep A-Knockin'", "Ooh My Soul"and "Every night about this time" however most of his big hits in his prime were recorded with a studio band which included Lee Allen and Earl Palmer.[3]

Films

The band appeared in a few rock n' roll movies such as: The Girl Can't Help It, Don't Knock the Rock, and Mister Rock and Roll. They did not actually play, nor did Little Richard sing, but they lip synched to their hits "Tutti Frutti", "Long Tall Sally", "Ready Teddy", "The Girl Can't Help It", and "She's Got It" from 1956 to 1957.[4]

Little Richard trades Rock N' Roll for Gospel

During a concert in Australia in late 1957, Little Richard decided it was time to quit rock n' roll and devote himself to God, after he saw the Russian satellite 'Sputnik 1' fly overhead. He believed it was a sign from God to give up Rock & Roll. Specialty Records released three albums after he quit - "Here's Little Richard"(1957), "Little Richard"(1958), and "The Fabulous Little Richard" (1959). The band continued until the mid-1960s. They had songs including "Hattie Malatti" and "Mama Loochie" (1958), both sung by the band's lead sax player Wilburt Smith under the alias "Lee Diamond and the Upsetters".

References
  1. "The Life And Times of Little Richard" Charles White.
  2. Harris, Stephen Thomas Erlewine, Keith; Erlewine, Stephen Thomas; Harris, Keith (May 9, 2020). "Little Richard: 20 Essential Songs". Rolling Stone. Retrieved May 15, 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  3. Conner, Charles; Biton, Ziv (August 1, 2015). Keep A Knockin': The Story of a Legendary Drummer. Waldorf Publishing. ISBN 978-1-63443-264-1.
  4. "Little Richard, flamboyant rock 'n' roll pioneer, dead at 87". San Diego Union-Tribune. May 9, 2020. Retrieved May 16, 2020.
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