The Upsetters (United States)

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The Upsetters
General information
Genre (s) Rock and roll
founding 1954
resolution 1967
Founding members
Charles "Chuck" Connor
Wilbert "Lee Diamond" Smith
Tenor saxophone
 Danny Carmichael (1954)
Thomas Harwell (1954)
Luke "Fats" Gonder (1954)
Jimmy Rice (1954)
former members
Tenor saxophone
 Grady Gaines (from 1956)
Tenor saxophone
 Clifford Burks (around 1956)
Baritone saxophone
 Jewell Grant (around 1956)
guitar
 Nathaniel Douglas (around 1956)
bass
 Olsie Robinson (around 1956)
guitar
 Joe Hughes (1963)
guitar
 Milton Hopkins (1960)
saxophone
 Richard Roy (1960)
Drums
 Emile Russell (1960)

The Upsetters were an American rock 'n' roll band best known as the live band Little Richards .

history

Little Richards Live Band

After his first, less successful recordings for RCA Records and Peacock Records , Little Richard formed the Upsetters as a new live band in 1954, which replaced the Tempo Toppers. The repertoire consisted of cover versions of rhythm and blues songs, some blues numbers that Little Richard had already released, as well as novel, hard and fast rhythm and blues songs like Tutti Frutti , which were on extensive tours in the southern states were given. When Little Richard went to New Orleans , Louisiana in September 1955 to make recordings for Specialty Records and the renowned studio band Cosimo Matassas was made available to him there , the Upsetters denied the remaining tour dates that had already been negotiated with the young James Brown as Vocalists. Even Otis Redding , who, like Richard from Macon , Georgia came some time touring with the Upsetters.

After Little Richard became successful with his specialty singles, he put the Upsetters through with the label boss Art Rupe as accompaniment in the studio, as he considered them to be on a par with the session musicians in New Orleans. This is how some hit singles Little Richards emerged with the Upsetters, including Lucille and Keep A-Knockin ' . The frequent concerts were also played in this formation. After Little Richard decided on a tour through Australia in the summer of 1957 to give up the rock 'n' roll business in order to become a priest and to prove the seriousness of his project in front of the band's eyes, worth several thousand dollars Throwing rings into a river, the Upsetters were on their own again.

Grady Gaines ′ Upsetters

The tenor saxophonist Grady Gaines took over the leadership of the band, which from the beginning of 1958 recorded a few singles again. Little Richard took over the keys and the microphone for the 1960 studio recordings on the Little Star Records label in New York , but wanted to remain anonymous out of consideration for his religious environment. In addition, the Upsetters acted as a backing band for various artists such as Don Covay , Leonard Carbo , Dee Clark , Lester Robertson , Chico Booth and Mr. Wiggles . The other upsetters also joined the company for a solo project by tenor saxophonist Wilbert “Lee Diamond” Smith for Vee-Jay Records . In 1967 the last single from the original band was released under the name "The World Famous Upsetters".

The Crown Jewels and the Royal Guard

When Little Richard began to play rock music again in America in 1964, he put together a live band from old companions and new accompanying musicians, which at first operated as "Upsetters" again, but later under the impression of the guards at Buckingham Palace had made on him during his England tours in 1963 and 1964, in "The Crown Jewels and the Royal Guard" (roughly: The Crown Jewels and the Royal Guard ) were renamed. The line-up of this group, including some extras dressed up as "Royal Guard", changed frequently. Between January 1965 and December 1965 a still unknown Jimi Hendrix (as "Jimmy James") played guitar in the formation and took part in the underrated ballad I Don't Know What You've Got But It's Got Me (November 1965) by Little Richard. He was then fired for missing the tour bus.

Chuck Connors Upsetters

In the 1980s, the original drummer of the Upsetters Charles "Chuck" Connor started a revival of the Upsetters under his name. In 1987 the formation played on a record by R&B pioneer Willie Egan .

Discography (singles)

Little Richard with the Upsetters

  • 1956 - Heeby-Jeebies / She's Got It , Specialty 584 (B-side only)
  • 1957 - Lucille / Send Me Some Lovin ′ , Specialty 598 (A-side only)
  • 1957 - Keep A-Knockin ′ / Can't Believe You Wanna Leave , Specialty 611 (A-side only)
  • 1958 - True, Fine Mama / Ooh! My Soul , Specialty 633 (B-side only)
  • 1958 - I'll Never Let You Go / Baby Face , Specialty 645 (A-side only)
  • 1958 - She Knows How To Rock / Early In The Morning , Specialty 652
  • 1959 - Whole Lotta Shakin 'Goin' On / Maybe I'm Right , Specialty 680 (A-Side only)

Lee Diamond with the Upsetters

  • 1957 - Mama Loochie / Hattie Malatti , Vee-Jay 272

Grady Gaines ′ Upsetters

  • 1958 - The Upsetter / The Strip , Falcon 1010
  • 1960 Rolling On / Blues , Gee 1055
  • 1960 - Jay Walking ′ / Steppin ′ Out , Fire 1029
  • 1962 - 'Tater Machine / Let's Get A Thing Going , Little Star 118
  • 1962 - Yes It's Me (I'm In Love Again) / Every Night About This Time , Little Star 123
  • 1963 Valley Of Tears / Freedom Ride , Little Star 128
  • 1967 - KP / Cabbage Greens , Sound of Soul 1058

Chuck Connors Upsetters

  • 1984 - I Got It / Don′t You Just Know It , Keep A-Rockin ′ Records 101
  • 1984 - Kiss My Love / Downtown Bus , Keep A-Rockin ′ Records 102
  • 1984 - File Gumbo / Bonnie Moronie , Keep A-Rockin 'Records 103

literature

  • Charles White: The Life And Times Of Little Richard. The Authorized Biography . Omnibus Press, London / New York / Paris, / Sydney / Copenhagen / Berlin / Madrid / Tokyo 2003, ISBN 0-7119-9761-6 .

Web links