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{{unreferenced|date=December 2014}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2021}}
{{more citations needed|date=February 2021}}

{{Infobox musical artist
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = The Upsetters
| name = The Upsetters
| alias =
| background = group_or_band
| alias =
| origin = [[Macon, Georgia]], U.S.
| genre = {{Hlist|[[Rock and roll]]|[[rhythm and blues|R&B]]|[[jump blues]]}}
| origin = [[Macon, Georgia]]
| years_active = {{start date|1953}} {{end date|early 1960s}}
| genre = [[Rock and roll]], [[rhythm and blues|R&B]], [[jump blues]]
| label = [[Specialty Records|Specialty]], [[Little Star Records|Little Star]]
| years active = {{start date|1953}} - {{end date|early 1960s}}
| associated_acts =
| label = [[Specialty Records]], [[Little Star Records]]
| website =
| associated_acts =
| past_members = [[Little Richard]]<br>[[Grady Gaines]]<br>[[Jimi Hendrix]]<br>Wilbert Lee Diamond<br>Olse "Bassey" Robinson<br>Nathniel "Buster" Douglas<br>Clifford Verke<br>[[Charles Connor|Charles "Chuck" Connor]]
| website =
| past_members = [[Little Richard]], Grady Gaines, Wilbert Lee Diamond, Olse "Bassey" Robinson, Nathniel "Buster" Douglas, Clifford Verke, Charles "Chuck" Conners.
}}
}}


'''The Upsetters''' were a band that played with American musician and poet [[Little Richard]] from 1953 to the early 1960s.<ref>"The Life And Times of Little Richard" Charles White.</ref> They would continue to tour and record through the late 1960s as a backing band with [[Otis Redding]] and as a solo group as well. They have been credited by [[James Brown]] and others with first putting the '[[funk]]' in the [[rock and roll]] beat.<ref>{{Cite web|last1=Harris|first1=Stephen Thomas Erlewine, Keith|last2=Erlewine|first2=Stephen Thomas|last3=Harris|first3=Keith|date=2020-05-09|title=Little Richard: 20 Essential Songs|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/little-richard-20-essential-songs-15792/|access-date=2020-05-15|website=Rolling Stone|language=en-US}}</ref>
'''The Upsetters''' were a band that played with [[Little Richard]] from 1953 to the early 1960s.


== Background ==
== Background ==
In 1953, Little Richard, dissatisfied with his solo career, formed a road band starting with Wilburt "Lee Diamond" Smith on [[Saxophone]], who became the leader, Nathaniel "Buster" Douglas on [[Electric guitar]], Charles "Chuck" Connors on [[Drums]], and Olsie "Bassy" Robinson on [[Bass Guitar]]. Little Richard and the band did many club performances from 1953 to 1955. Little Richard didn't record his first hit "[[Tutti Frutti (song)|Tutti Frutti]]" with the Upsetters, but he recorded it with studio musicians who had worked with [[Fats Domino]], after he told [[Art Rupe]], founder of [[Specialty Records]], that he liked Fats Domino's music. He recorded a number of songs with the Upsetters such as "[[Keep A Knockin']]", and "[[Ooh My Soul]]" however most of his big hits in his prime were recorded with a studio band which included Lee Allen and Earl Palmer.
In 1953, Little Richard, dissatisfied with his solo career, formed a road band starting with Wilburt "Lee Diamond" Smith on [[saxophone]], who became the leader, Nathaniel "Buster" Douglas on electric guitar, [[Charles Connor|Charles "Chuck" Connor]] on drums, and Olsie "Bassy" Robinson on bass guitar. Little Richard and the band did many club performances from 1953 to 1955. Little Richard did not record his first hit "[[Tutti Frutti (song)|Tutti Frutti]]" with the Upsetters, but he recorded it with studio musicians who had worked with [[Fats Domino]], after he told [[Art Rupe]], founder of [[Specialty Records]], that he liked Fats Domino's music. He recorded a number of songs with the Upsetters such as "[[Keep A-Knockin']]", "[[Ooh My Soul]]"and "[[Every night about this time]]" however most of his big hits in his prime were recorded with a studio band which included [[Lee Allen (musician)|Lee Allen]] and [[Earl Palmer]].<ref>{{Cite book|last1=Conner|first1=Charles|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=v1OqDAAAQBAJ&q=Little+Richard,++%22Keep+A+Knockin'%22,+and+%22Ooh+My+Soul%22&pg=PT230|title=Keep A Knockin': The Story of a Legendary Drummer|last2=Biton|first2=Ziv|date=August 1, 2015|publisher=Waldorf Publishing|isbn=978-1-63443-264-1|language=en}}</ref>


== Films ==
== Films ==
The band appeared in a few rock n' roll movies such as: "[[The Girl Can't Help It]]", "[[Don't Knock the Rock]]", and "Mister Rock and Roll". They did not actually play, nor did Little Richard sing, but they lip synched to their hits "[[Tutti Frutti (song)|Tutti Frutti]]", "[[Long Tall Sally]]", "[[Ready Teddy]]", "[[The Girl Can't Help It (song)|The Girl Can't Help It]]", and "[[She's Got It]]" from 1956 to 1957.
The band appeared in a few rock n' roll movies such as: ''[[The Girl Can't Help It]]'', ''[[Don't Knock the Rock]]'', and ''Mister Rock and Roll''. They did not actually play, nor did Little Richard sing, but they lip synched to their hits "[[Tutti Frutti (song)|Tutti Frutti]]", "[[Long Tall Sally]]", "[[Ready Teddy]]", "[[The Girl Can't Help It (song)|The Girl Can't Help It]]", and "[[She's Got It]]" from 1956 to 1957.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Little Richard, flamboyant rock 'n' roll pioneer, dead at 87|url=https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/entertainment/national/story/2020-05-09/little-richard-flamboyant-rock-n-roll-pioneer-dead-at-87|date=May 9, 2020|website=San Diego Union-Tribune|language=en|access-date=May 16, 2020}}</ref>


== Little Richard trades Rock N' Roll for Gospel ==
== Little Richard trades Rock N' Roll for Gospel ==
During a concert in [[Australia]] in June 1957, Little Richard decided it was time to quit Rock N' Roll and devote himself to god, after he saw a the Russian satellite 'Sputnik' fly overhead. He believed it was a sign from God to give up Rock & Roll. Specialty Records released three albums after he quit - "[[Here's Little Richard]]"(1957), "[[Little Richard]]"(1958), and "[[The Fabulous Little Richard]]"(1959). He departed from his band in 1960 and began his solo career. The band continued until the mid 1960s. They had songs including "Hattie Malatti" and "Mama Loochie" (1958), both sung by the band's lead sax player Wilburt Smith under the alias "Lee Diamond and the Upsetters".
During a concert in Australia in late 1957, Little Richard decided it was time to quit rock n' roll and devote himself to God, after he saw the Russian satellite 'Sputnik 1' fly overhead. He believed it was a sign from God to give up Rock & Roll. Specialty Records released three albums after he quit - "[[Here's Little Richard]]"(1957), "[[Little Richard (album)|Little Richard]]"(1958), and "[[The Fabulous Little Richard]]" (1959). The band continued until the mid-1960s. They had songs including "Hattie Malatti" and "Mama Loochie" (1958), both sung by the band's lead sax player Wilburt Smith under the alias "Lee Diamond and the Upsetters".

== Sources ==
https://www.amazon.com/Life-Times-Little-Richard/dp/0306805529 - Book "The Life And Times Of Little Richard" Charles White.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XzIXPt7aNAs "True kings of rock" episode 1 channel: Bugsy Cline

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0rN4yAblPjk "True kings of rock" episode 2 channel: Bugsy Cline


== References ==
http://rockhall.com/inductees/little-richard/bio/ [[Rock and Roll Hall of Fame]]
{{Reflist}}
*http://rockhall.com/inductees/little-richard/bio/ [[Rock and Roll Hall of Fame]]
*http://www.biography.com/people/little-richard-9383571


==External links==
http://www.biography.com/people/little-richard-9383571
* {{Discogs artist|The Upsetters (2)}}
{{Little Richard|state=expanded}}
{{Authority control}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Upsetters}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Upsetters, The (American band)}}
[[Category:Musical groups from Georgia (U.S. state)]]
[[Category:Rock music groups from Georgia (U.S. state)]]
[[Category:Musical groups established in 1953]]
[[Category:Musical groups established in 1953]]
[[Category:African-American rock musical groups]]

Latest revision as of 21:30, 16 April 2024

The Upsetters
OriginMacon, Georgia, U.S.
Genres
Years active1953 (1953) – early 1960s (early 1960s)
LabelsSpecialty, Little Star
Past membersLittle Richard
Grady Gaines
Jimi Hendrix
Wilbert Lee Diamond
Olse "Bassey" Robinson
Nathniel "Buster" Douglas
Clifford Verke
Charles "Chuck" Connor

The Upsetters were a band that played with American musician and poet Little Richard from 1953 to the early 1960s.[1] They would continue to tour and record through the late 1960s as a backing band with Otis Redding and as a solo group as well. They have been credited by James Brown and others with first putting the 'funk' in the rock and roll beat.[2]

Background

[edit]

In 1953, Little Richard, dissatisfied with his solo career, formed a road band starting with Wilburt "Lee Diamond" Smith on saxophone, who became the leader, Nathaniel "Buster" Douglas on electric guitar, Charles "Chuck" Connor on drums, and Olsie "Bassy" Robinson on bass guitar. Little Richard and the band did many club performances from 1953 to 1955. Little Richard did not record his first hit "Tutti Frutti" with the Upsetters, but he recorded it with studio musicians who had worked with Fats Domino, after he told Art Rupe, founder of Specialty Records, that he liked Fats Domino's music. He recorded a number of songs with the Upsetters such as "Keep A-Knockin'", "Ooh My Soul"and "Every night about this time" however most of his big hits in his prime were recorded with a studio band which included Lee Allen and Earl Palmer.[3]

Films

[edit]

The band appeared in a few rock n' roll movies such as: The Girl Can't Help It, Don't Knock the Rock, and Mister Rock and Roll. They did not actually play, nor did Little Richard sing, but they lip synched to their hits "Tutti Frutti", "Long Tall Sally", "Ready Teddy", "The Girl Can't Help It", and "She's Got It" from 1956 to 1957.[4]

Little Richard trades Rock N' Roll for Gospel

[edit]

During a concert in Australia in late 1957, Little Richard decided it was time to quit rock n' roll and devote himself to God, after he saw the Russian satellite 'Sputnik 1' fly overhead. He believed it was a sign from God to give up Rock & Roll. Specialty Records released three albums after he quit - "Here's Little Richard"(1957), "Little Richard"(1958), and "The Fabulous Little Richard" (1959). The band continued until the mid-1960s. They had songs including "Hattie Malatti" and "Mama Loochie" (1958), both sung by the band's lead sax player Wilburt Smith under the alias "Lee Diamond and the Upsetters".

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "The Life And Times of Little Richard" Charles White.
  2. ^ Harris, Stephen Thomas Erlewine, Keith; Erlewine, Stephen Thomas; Harris, Keith (May 9, 2020). "Little Richard: 20 Essential Songs". Rolling Stone. Retrieved May 15, 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  3. ^ Conner, Charles; Biton, Ziv (August 1, 2015). Keep A Knockin': The Story of a Legendary Drummer. Waldorf Publishing. ISBN 978-1-63443-264-1.
  4. ^ "Little Richard, flamboyant rock 'n' roll pioneer, dead at 87". San Diego Union-Tribune. May 9, 2020. Retrieved May 16, 2020.
[edit]