(Hollywood Reporter) (03/30/04)

By Tamara Conniff

Edited By Michael Bennett

AUSTIN, TX, USA - LITTLE RICHARD wants young artists to get back to the roots of music by learning to play their instruments instead of programming on computers.

"(Artists) are going to computers and they are not really playing the music," Little Richard says.

"I think they need to stay with the craft so they can learn the real theory, the real thing. You want to be a real musician, not just somebody pushing a button."

When he gave the keynote speech at the 18th Annual Southwest Music Conference in Austin, Texas, Little Richard simply addressed musical integrity and his life experiences, he said.

In fact, this year's entire festival, which saw more than 7,000 attendees, went back to its own roots with a strong showing of independent music.

Of the 1,300 bands performing, only 77 were signed with major labels, while 763 acts were with indies. Additionally, 393 unsigned bands gave showcases.

The conference, which took place earlier this month, has several indie panels lined up including "Successful Entrepreneurship In The Indie World," "Indie Labels Learn New Tricks" and "How Indie Labels Find Artists." There was also a panel dedicated to music publishing, entitled "The Deals And The Money."

One of the most important things any young artist can do is to take control of his or her publishing and financials, Little Richard cautions.

"A lot of (young artists) don't want to learn, they just want to be famous, and when the deal goes downhill, they are left in the cold," Little Richard points out.

"The artist should lean how to control his publishing; that's really where the money is -- and make sure that your name is on all the checks. I don't care who your business manager is, you sign the checks."

The hope of fame and fortune is a powerful enticement for artists, but Little Richard warns: "The grass may look greener on the other side, but it's just as hard to cut."

Little Richard recalls: "My family was very poor, my mother had 12 children."

"I wanted to get famous because I wanted to help them eat and help them have a place to stay. I was willing to do anything."

"I fell in on one of those record deals (where I only) got half a cent a record. I never did get the other half to make a penny. That's the reason I am able to talk about these things because I've been through it."

"I was taken and shaken and broke down to the bottom with it. I've been through the mill, but I'm still standing."

With his wild stage antics and vivid costumes, Little Richard broke the mold of the 1950s.

"Being flamboyant at that time, it was like you was a crazy person because there was nobody else doing it," he says.

"To see you come out with this diamond jacket and diamond shoes, people went out of their minds.

They said, 'Man, what is this guy doing? This guy, what is he? He's crazy."

Not only did Little Richard have a slew of hits including 'Tutti Frutti,' 'Slippin' and Slidin' and "Keep A Knockin,' he also gave some of rock's greatest musicians their start in his band, including Jimi Hendrix, Billy Preston and James Brown.

Little Richard, who performs about five or six dates a month, says he's happy with his hits and has no plans to record any new music.

"If it ain't broke, don't fix it," the veteran says. "I like the way it is now, I want to let it stay there."

"I just travel now and I do shows all over the world."

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