An influential figure in popular music and culture for more than six decades, Little Richard's most celebrated work dates from the mid-1950s when his dynamic music and charismatic showmanship laid the foundation for rock and roll. His music also played a key role in the formation of other popular music genres, including soul and funk, and has influenced numerous singers and musicians across musical genres from rock to hip hop. Little Richard has been honored by many institutions. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as part of its first group of inductees in 1986. Little Richard's "Tutti Frutti" (1955) was included in the National Recording Registry of the Library of Congress in 2010, which stated that his "unique vocalizing over the irresistible beat announced a new era in music." In 2015, the National Museum of African American Music honoured Little Richard with a Rhapsody & Rhythm Award for his pivotal role in the formation of popular music genres and in helping to shatter the colour line on the music charts, changing American culture significantly. This album comprises Richard's Okeh period from February 1966 to May 1967 at Hollywood and (in December 1966) at Abbey Road Studios. Excellent, soul-oriented recordings and a superb, in-studio-with-audience live set.
