How Little Richard Was Exploited By A Bad Record Deal And Never Fully Cashed In

TOPLINE

Little Richard, who died Saturday at age 87, was one of the most influential musicians of all time—but a bad record deal and the pervasive racism of the 1950’s American music industry kept the singer from cashing in on some of his biggest hits.

Little Richard died at age 87 on Saturday.

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KEY FACTS

After Little Richard sent in a rough cut of what would go on to be his first hit single, “Tutti Fruity,” Specialty Records owner Art Rupe purchased the rights to the song for a reported $50, and Little Richard’s contract gave him only half a cent for each record sold.

“I was a dumb black kid and my mama had 12 kids and my daddy was dead,” Little Richard reportedly said of the deal, adding, “I wanted to help them, so I took whatever was offered.”

According to the New York Times, by the time “Tutti Frutti” had sold 500,000 copies, Little Richard only earned $25,000 from it.

His contract was typical for black musicians of the time—while white artists would enjoy a cut of between 3% and 5%—and Little Richard also reportedly received no royalties when his hits were used in movies or covered by white singers, a common practice in the music industry at the time.

In 1984, Little Richard sued Specialty Records for $112 million, saying they had not paid royalties to him after he left the label in 1959, and went on to settle out of court for an undisclosed amount.

Little Richard’s music, along with that of The Beatles, went on to be purchased by Michael Jackson, who bought Specialty’s catalog in the mid-1980’s.

CRUCIAL QUOTE

“I had signed a very bad deal with Specialty. If you wanted to record, you signed on their terms or you didn't record. I got half a cent for every record sold. Whoever heard cutting a penny in half! It didn't matter how many records you sold if you were black. The publishing rights were sold to the record label before the record was even released. ‘Tutti Frutti’ was sold to Specialty for $50,” Little Richard is quoted as having said in his authorized biography, "The Life And Times Of Little Richard.”

Rupe went on to defend himself, saying that the deal with Little Richard was fair, especially considering the singer hadn’t had a hit yet when Specialty bought “Tutti Frutti.”

“When I made a deal, I kept my deal—I went beyond my deal! There was ample profit in making a successful record. I made plenty of money. My artists made plenty of money. I didn't share in their personal appearances. I gave him a very fair contract, particularly an unknown. I gave them a very very low rate and I would increase it with time and performance—like you do in any industry,” Rupe said, according to "The Life And Times Of Little Richard."

News Peg

On Saturday, Rolling Stone reported that Little Richard’s son, Danny Penniman, confirmed his father’s death to the magazine.

KEY BACKGROUND

Little Richard had multiple chart-topping hits after “Tutti Frutti,” including “Long Tall Sally” and “Rip It Up” hitting the Top 10 in 1956, along with “Lucille” in 1957 and “Good Golly Miss Molly” in 1958. Little Richard was one of the most influential artists of the 20th century, and counted Elton John, Micheal Jackson, Jimmy Hendrix, and members of The Beatles and the Rolling Stones—all legends in their own right—as musicians who proclaimed him an inspiration.

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