Rip It Up!

Well, it’s Saturday night….

…and I just got paid
(well, not quite, since it’s
shelter-in-place and sit tight…),
Fool about my money, don’t try to save,
My heart says go go, have a time,
‘Cause it’s Saturday night and I’m feelin’ fine,

I’m gonna rock it up, I’m gonna rip it up,
I’m gonna shake it up, gonna ball it up,
I’m gonna rock it up, and ball tonight.

‘Long about ten I’ll be flying high,
Walk on out unto the sky,
But I don’t care if I spend my dough,
‘Cause tonight I’m gonna be one happy soul…

“Rip It Up” written by Robert Blackwell and John Marascalco. It was first released by Little Richard in June 1956.

RIP (it up) Mr. Little Richard, King (and Soul) of Rock ‘n’ Roll

I started dancing as a teenager to Little Richard’s music. The energy got into my feet and never left! After initially learning “the bop” from my buddy Drew, I would copy the Teddy Boy dance moves at the local rock ‘n’roll dance place, The Royalty, in Southgate, North London (now a Fitness center and Marks & Spencers!)

In the 1990s I went to see Little Richard perform at the Circle Star Theater in San Carlos, just off the 101. The stage rotated slowly throughout the show. At one point Little Richard invited some of the audience to get up on stage and dance! Well, you can guess who jumped up like a shot!! Yes, me:-)

Though many years later the “Rip It Up” tribute on this Saturday night that you see in the video at the top of this page has some of the same moves I stole at the Royalty and danced on stage at the Circle Star!!

(Thank you, Peggy, for the great camera work!:-)