The Beatles Unravelled #28
Little Richard and The Beatles

When Little Richard and The Beatles played together in 1962, they picked up the medley Kansas City/Hey-Hey-Hey-Hey and met Billy Preston. At that time Billy Preston was playing in Little Richard’s touring band.

3 to 9 June – Little Richard and The Beatles
guest feature on the Mop Tops and The King show

Steve Chelmsford presents the Mop Tops and the King radio show. Certainly, a great name for a show that is all about the music of The Beatles and Elvis Presley.
Every other week, author of Rock’n’Roll Unravelled Derek Shelmerdine presents The Beatles Unravelled, alternating with Elvis Presley Unravelled.

The podcast provides this 1-minute segment of a little bit of Beatles and Elvis Presley history. Moreover, the Unravelled stories take a look at some of the more obscure parts of the story.

The MTK Network broadcasts the show, with 100 radio stations around the world. Consequently, the Mop Tops and the King is playing somewhere in the world, every day of the week.
Show Schedule for times and radio stations.
(Times on the Show Schedule are Eastern Time. Consequently, the UK is five hours ahead.)

Listen Again – PODCAST
Little Richard and The Beatles

The Beatles with rock’n’roll legend Little Richard

Little Richard was on tour in Australia in October 1957 when he had an epiphany. As a result, he found Religion and renouncing rock’n’roll. When he returned to America he became a Seventh Day Adventist minister.

In 1959 his record label, Speciality, released his album, The Fabulous Little Richard. The album included the track, Kansas City / Hey-Hey-Hey-Hey medley.

This religious phase passed. By October 1962 Little Richard was back on the rock’n’roll circuit and on tour in the UK. This UK tour also included two Beatles shows. They followed this with a joint 14-night residency at the Star Club in Hamburg. This was now the Beatles’ fourth Hamburg trip.

Billy Preston was in Little Richard’s touring band and subsequently played on the Beatles’ Get Back project.

In December 1964 the Beatles released their fourth UK album, Beatles for Sale. The album also included the medley Kansas City / Hey-Hey-Hey-Hey. A medley made popular by Little Richard.

Extracts from Rock’n’Roll Unravelled

All of the Elvis Presley Unravelled and The Beatles Unravelled podcasts are based on extracts from Derek Shelmerdine‘s book Rock’n’Roll Unravelled.

The Beatles – Extracts taken from Rock’n’Roll Unravelled
Elvis Presley – Extracts taken from Rock’n’Roll Unravelled

These extracts are only a small fraction of the Beatles and Elvis stories to be found in the book.

About the book – Rock’n’Roll Unravelled

Rock’n’Roll Unravelled tells the story of rock’n’roll from its roots to mid-1970s punk.

In addition to the music, the book looks at the social factors influencing the music. The Vietnam War, fear of communism and Civil rights struggle certainly helped to shape the sounds of the time.

If it’s relevant to the music of the 1950s. ’60s, ’70s and its roots – it’s in the book. For example, there are stories about bands and artists. Also, a look at classic albums and singles, landmark recording sessions. Not forgetting memorable gigs and festivals. Plus stories about influential managers, how bands came together, lineups and – SO MUCH MORE…

Rock’n’Roll Unravelled‘s unique three-part structure

Rock’n’Roll Unravelled has three sections: Timeline, What Happened Today and Pocket Histories.

What Happened Today – looks at the events happening on a day-by-day basis.

Consequently, as the review in Record Collector magazine puts it in its review of the book, “Shelmerdine has made a painstaking effort to documented pretty much every event that will prove significant in shaping popular music”. In addition, the review went on to describe the book as, “comprehensive… invaluable”.

Moreover, the cross-referenced events in What Happened Today create the other two sections, Timeline and Pocket Histories.

Timeline – consequently provides a date-order listing of all of the events in What Happened Today.

Pocket Histories – further extends the cross-referencing. As a result, this builds a picture of the lives and times of the artists, bands and events in What Happened Today.

TO BUY – a signed copy of Rock’n’Roll Unravelled

For all previous editions of…
The Beatles Unravelled and Elvis Presley Unravelled

First Broadcast: Little Richard and The Beatles

3 to 9 June 2022, on the MTK network.