Little Richard 1955 Nashville, Tennessee Nightclub Pre-Fame Concert Poster....

Description

Little Richard 1955 Nashville, Tennessee Nightclub Pre-Fame Concert Poster. An original cardboard window card advertising one of the founding fathers of rock 'n' roll, Little Richard, playing in a Nashville nightclub for two weeks in the spring of 1955. Nothing was shaking for Richard yet, but five months later he would record his own "Tutti-Frutti," it would become a national Top 20 pop hit, and his career would be on its way to stardom. At this juncture, he was still trying to sell himself as "The Crown Prince of the Blues." This white & blue concert poster was made in the same city that Richard was playing... by the Hatch Show Print company in Nashville. Measures a shade under 14" x 22" and grades to Very Good condition. COA from Heritage Auctions.

More Information: It's also terrific that Richard was playing with "His Upsetters Orchestra," because the Upsetters are one of the most famous backing bands in rock 'n' roll history, their name appearing on many a vintage concert poster. Richard had formed them two years earlier, consisting of four players: saxophone, electric guitar, drums and electric bass. (Don't let that word "orchestra" fool you.)

So they were Richard's musical bedrock and even played on a couple of his most noteworthy songs, "Keep A-Knockin'" and "Ooh My Soul." They also appeared as themselves in the seminal movies The Girl Can't Help It, Don't Knock the Rock and Mister Rock and Roll. After Richard left them to go gospel in 1957, they continued on well into the 60's and were one of Otis Redding's backing bands. Reportedly even Jimi Hendrix played with them for a short while, way before he was famous.

Condition details: Poster was once quarter-folded down to fit into Hatch Show Print's filing cabinets. If any blue color was broken initially, it's been so expertly and subtly touched-up (when the verso was reinforced) that we can't even tell. There are just tiny remnants of the crease in the "P" in "Apr" and the "H" in "Richard." Very lightly bumped corners and the expected light toning from the passage of six decades.

On the verso, the creases were reinforced with a white strengthening substance, smooth to the touch. The board still flexes a tiny bit but is now protected from any further damage along the creases. Also, "55" is written in pen in one of the corners, presumably by Hatch.


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