Before Elvis shook his hips, Little Richard was already screaming, sweating, pounding the piano, and blowing the doors off American music.
Trailer for “Little Richard: I Am Everything”
You Can’t Make This Sh!t Up
- Little Richard helped invent rock ’n’ roll from its Black queer roots. Then he watched the mainstream music business repackage that sound through safer white artists.
- He called himself “the architect of rock ’n’ roll,” and the doc makes a strong case that he was right.
- Richard’s whole act—makeup, pompadour, screams, piano attacks, sexual chaos—was wildly bold for a Black queer performer from segregated Macon, Georgia.
Watch “Little Richard: I Am Everything”
You can watch “Little Richard: I Am Everything” on Prime Video and Apple TV.
Ratings:
- My Rating: 95/100
- IMDB Rating: 7.4/10
- Rotten Tomatoes Ratings: 94/100 (Users); 98/100 (Critics)
Director’s Note: Lisa Cortés directed and produced this 2023 documentary. She digs into Little Richard’s music, faith, sexuality, race, and legacy without sanding off the hard parts.
Release Date: April 21, 2023
Other Unique Stuff
- The documentary shows how Little Richard drew inspiration from gospel churches, drag performers, jump blues, and queer nightlife scenes. His sound and style came from worlds that rarely got credit in mainstream rock history.
- One of the doc’s most emotional themes is Richard’s lifelong struggle between his religious beliefs and his sexuality.
- The archival footage is incredible. Whether he’s pounding the piano, taking over television interviews, or demanding recognition for his contributions to music, Richard’s charisma is so powerful that he becomes hard to look away from.
Wrap Up:
“Little Richard: I Am Everything” is a loud, fast, overdue correction to rock history. If you like music docs that actually change how you see the whole genre, this one is worth your time.
Thanks for reading!
Heather Fenty, Guest Writer, Daily Doc