Charles Connor

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For the Irish Unionist MP, see Charles Connor (MP). For people of a similar name, see Charles Connors (disambiguation).

Charles Connor
Born(1935-01-14)January 14, 1935
New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S.
DiedJuly 31, 2021(2021-07-31) (aged 86)
Glendale, California, U.S.
GenresRhythm and blues, rock and roll
Occupation(s)Drummer
Years active1950–2021
WebsiteOfficial website

Charles Connor (January 14, 1935 – July 31, 2021) was an American drummer, best known as a member of Little Richard's band.[1] Richard's shout of "a-wop bop-a loo-mop, a-lop bam-boom" at the beginning of "Tutti Frutti" is said to be a reference to Connor's drum rhythms.[2] James Brown described Little Richard and his band, with Connor as the drummer, as "the first to put funk into the rhythm."[3][4]

Early life

Connor was born in

Bob Alden, Art Blakey, Charles Otis, Gene Krupa, Buddy Rich, and Max Roach. He received his first drum kit at the age of five.[5]

Career

Connor's first professional work as a drummer came in 1950, at the age of 15, when he was hired by

shuffle"[7]) that John Bonham later imitated in the opening of Led Zeppelin's "Rock and Roll".[5][7][8] At times when Connor was not working with Richard, he drummed with James Brown, after Richard connected The Famous Flames with his promoter Clint Brantley. Brown described Connor, while playing in Richard's mid-1950s band, as "the first [drummer] to put funk into the rhythm".[9]

In his later career, Connor drummed with Sam Cooke, Jackie Wilson, The Coasters, Big Joe Turner, Larry Williams, Don Covay, George Lightfoot, and Dee Clark.[5] During the 1980s, Connor put together a new group, Charles Connor's Upsetters. Their first single was a cover of Richard's "I Got It", then they issued some originals, including "Kiss My Love" and "Drummer Man" (featuring Connor's first lead vocal on record. [10] Connor and Richard reunited in 1990 after a hiatus of three decades, performing "The Girl Can't Help It" in on stage in Malmö, Sweden.[11]

Connor issued two books, Keep a Knockin' (2015)[12] and Don't Give Up on Your Dreams (2008),[13] the latter an inspirational tome. He was inducted to the Louisiana Music Hall of Fame in 2010.[14] He released his album Still Knocking in 2013. Connor was working on an autobiographical documentary up until his death.[15]

Personal life

Connor was married to Zenaida for over three decades until his death.[5] They reconnected in 1981, having first met while he toured the Philippines with Little Richard's band.[16] Together, they had a daughter named Queenie.[5][15]

Connor died on July 31, 2021, at his home in Glendale, California, under hospice care. He was 86, and suffered from normal pressure hydrocephalus prior to his death.[15]

References

  1. ^ "On This Day in Louisiana Music History". Satchmo. Archived from the original on April 21, 2012. Retrieved May 1, 2012.
  2. ISBN 0306814919
    .
  3. ^ "Little Richard Biography | The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum". Rockhall.com. Retrieved May 22, 2014.
  4. ^ Palmer 2011, p. 139.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i "Biography". Legendary Drummer. Archived from the original on October 13, 2014. Retrieved December 5, 2016.
  6. ^ White 2003, pp. 38–39.
  7. ^ a b Glass, Daniel. ""Keep A-Knockin" - Little Richard - 1957". Drummerworld. Retrieved May 1, 2012.
  8. ISBN 978-1578069606
    .
  9. ^ "Drum legend Charles Connor keeps on knockin'". Goldmine Magazine. F+W Media. Retrieved May 1, 2012.
  10. ISBN 9781135865078
    .
  11. ^ Charles Connor performing w/ Little Richard (Malmö, Sweden 1990). YouTube. July 27, 2020. Retrieved August 1, 2021.
  12. ISBN 978-1-63443-264-1
    .
  13. ISBN 978-1-4678-6163-2
    .
  14. ^ "Charles Connor 2010". Louisiana Music Hall of Fame. Retrieved August 2, 2021.
  15. ^ a b c "Charles Connor, drummer for Little Richard, dies at age 86". Associated Press. August 1, 2021. Retrieved August 1, 2021.
  16. ^ Heutmaker, Megan (September 27, 2017). "Keep A Knockin': Charles Connor". Ponderosa Stomp. Retrieved August 1, 2021.

Bibliography

External links
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