History | Feature Spotlight
Little Richard completely embodied the raw, audacious spirit of the sound that would later be known as rock. He shattered the expectations of a traditional Black, man, embracing flamboyance, femininity, and flaunting convention. It was as if he, along with his signature howl, appeared from nowhere…almost like an alien. But Richard didn’t arrive in a UFO or some magical dimension, he had to be influenced somewhere right?. Where or rather who might that be?
The answer is simple. Billy Wright. His name may not strike an immediate chord to the general public, but his impact is undeniable.
Known as “The Prince of the Blues, Billy Wright was an openly gay jump blues musician. While he enjoyed moderate success as an artist, the most significant legacy was his influence on Black, queer rock pioneers like Little Richard.
Born in Atlanta, Georgia in 1918, Wright, like many early 20th century rock and roll artists, was raised in the Black church, singing gospel, his first introduction to music. As he grew older, he became a dancer and female impersonator, performing as a “tent show queen”. It was likely during this time that he learned to bend staunch gender norms through the use of makeup, fashion, and performance.
As a singer, Wright honed his vocal abilities at Atlanta’s 81 Theater, where he caught the attention of Paul “Hucklebuck” Williams, a Black saxophonist who recommended him to the head of Savoy Records.
As a recording artist at Savoy Records, Wright quickly landed four songs on Billboard’s top R&B charts between 1949 to 1951. Around this time, Little Richard met Billy Wright for the first time, and possessed a deep admiration for Wright, drawing inspiration from his inventive, colorful style to craft his own.
In The Life and Times of Little Richard, the rockstar recalled, “Wright wore very loud-colored clothin’ and shoethin’ to match his clothin’. I really looked up to Billy Wright. That’s where I got the hairstyle from and everything.”
The famed blues musician also took a liking to Little Richard, perhaps seeing himself in him. In 1951, Wright helped Little Richard secure his first ever recording contract with RCA, and the rest is history. Little Richard went on to bring underground Black, queer culture from the South into mainstream, introducing it to young, white audiences and quickly establishing himself as a rock pioneer.
Wright’s performance style absolutely laid the foundation for the iconic “rock ‘n’ roll” look with his pompadour hair, pancake makeup, and electric energy. Ironically as the popularity of rock and roll ascended, blues musicians like Wright were overshadowed by the emerging younger, “hipper” genre.
In 1991, Wright passed away from a pulmonary embolism at the age of 73. Fortunately, he lived long enough to witness his work appreciated by an entirely new generation of listeners who recognized him as a blues pioneer of the 40’s and 50’s.
Little Richard went on to influence music titans like Prince who took a step further in gender bending. While Prince's sexuality remains under debate, his androgyny is beyond doubt. Artists like Wright, Little Richard, Esquerita, and other Black, queer pioneers sparked the flame that would challenge the restrictive gender stereotypes of the 1950’s, particularly for Black, male performers.
Although Wright’s singular career was brief, he left an indelible mark in music, crafting the image of progenitors like Little Richard, who redefined masculinity and revolutionized rock and roll. Without the influence of the Gayes, who knows if rock would have taken off as the global force it is today?