Among the pioneers of rock’n’roll, Little Richard stands tall. Alongside Chuck Berry, Fats Domino and Bo Diddley, he was one of the first Black rock’n’roll musicians to win over white audiences and impose a unique style that influenced generations. Behind that revolutionary sound was a band — The Upsetters — and this 1956 bass. Let’s take a closer look at one of the instruments that helped shape rock’n’roll…

Little Richard set the tone and image of rock’n’roll for artists such as The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Elton John, and David Bowie. He performed some of the greatest classics of the genre, including *Tutti Frutti* and *Long Tall Sally*. In 1956, The Upsetters joined Little Richard and played with him for nearly eighteen months. In the band, Olsie Robinson played bass — the very Gibson EB heard on Little Richard’s Specialty Records sessions. You can hear it on some of the greatest rock’n’roll hits ever recorded and spot it in several filmed performances, including the legendary *Tutti Frutti*! This cornerstone of rock’n’roll history is now available at Matt’s Guitar Shop!

Find the 1956 Upsetters bass in our shop!