Little Richard, American musician, songwriter, performer and midwife to Rock’n’Roll, not to mention soul, rock, rhythm and blues, funk and hip hop, died today in 2020 at home in Tullahoma, Tennessee. His music and performing style was powerfully influenced by his experience of Gospel music and uninhibited Pentecostal praise. Richard made his name with his early hits, ‘Tutti Frutti’ and ‘Long Tall Sally’ (1955 and 56); his songs brought together black and white audiences and were covered by Elvis Presley and Buddy Holly; and the Beatles played support at his concerts in the early 60s. A-wop-bop-a-loo-bop-a-lop-bam-boom – that was his catchphrase.
It is the birthday of the flamboyant American evangelist, broadcaster and faith healer Kathryn Kuhlman, who was born today in 1908 near Concordia, Missouri. She started preaching in her teens, and by the time she was 25 was running her own evangelistic outfit, the Kuhlman Revival Tabernacle, at an old paper warehouse in Denver. Her evangelistic style was a unique blend of Holy Ghost revival, melodrama and glamour, with Kuhlman preaching in a flowing, floor length gown.
Dietrich Buxtehude, the Swedish-Danish Baroque composer, died today in 1707. A couple of years earlier, the young Johann Sebastian Bach had tramped over 200 miles across Germany to meet Buxtehude, who was then church organist in Lübeck, and study his music.
Nicolaus von Zinzendorf, the inspiring reformer, missionary and bishop of the Moravian Church (one of the earliest Protestant movements), died today in 1760. He cultivated relationships with Christian leaders across the religious divides, including the Catholic Cardinal Noailles of France, the Methodist John Wesley of Britain, and Chief Tomochichi of the Creek Nation in America. Zinzendorf’s theology was emotionally intelligent, and he wrote many hymns, including this old favourite, translated by John Wesley.
Jesus, thy blood and righteousness
my beauty are, my glorious dress;
’midst flaming worlds, in these arrayed,
with joy shall I lift up my head.
Nicolaus Zinzendorf
Lincoln Cathedral in England, built in the Norman style, was consecrated today in 1092. It was destroyed in an earthquake less than 100 years later in 1185.
Today in 1911, the Vatican placed all the works of Gabriele D’Annunzio. the Italian poet, playwright, orator and journalist, on the Index of Forbidden Books. It was because he had collaborated with composer Claude Debussy on a musical play, Le Martyre de saint Sébastien (The Martyrdom of St Sebastian), written for Ida Rubinstein.
Image: Robbie Drexhage