Story | Bob Dylan Remembers Little Richard

From One Legend to Another

Little Richard has influenced countless musicians – from The Beatles to the folk rock icon Bob Dylan. In fact, Dylan once dreamed of joining Richard’s band when he was just a young musician who hasn’t taken over the world with his music yet. He even tried copying Richard’s style at a 1957 Hibbing High School talent show – Dylan’s first public performance.

And so after learning of Richard’s passing at the age of 87, Dylan wrote a short tribute to the founding father of rock ‘n roll.

He said, “I just heard the news about Little Richard and I’m so grieved. He was my shining star and guiding light back when I was only a little boy. His was the original spirit that moved me to do everything I would do.”

He added, “I played some shows with him in Europe in the early nineties and got to hang out in his dressing room a lot. He was always generous, kind and humble. And still dynamite as a performer and a musician and you could still learn plenty from him. In his presence he was always the same Little Richard that I first heard and was awed by growing up and I always was the same little boy. Of course he’ll live forever. But it’s like a part of your life is gone.”