I must admit it was hard to see him brought out in a wheelchair and lifted onto the piano bench, but he explained this was his last concert before going into the hospital for hip surgery.

Once he was at the piano, Little Richard lit up like a Christmas tree and turned on his considerable charm. A charismatic, engaging and witty performer, he instantly had the audience in the palm of his hand. And as he approaches his 77th birthday, the cat can still play the piano and sing, albeit in short bursts.

Backed by a dynamite10-piece band, including a fantastic horn section, he launched into “Good Golly Miss Molly” and I could feel chills running up and down my spine. That one song was worth the price of admission. Fortunately, there were a few more as he followed it with “Blueberry Hill” and “Old Time Rock & Roll.”

Little Richard is part country, part blues, part preacher and a true rock & roll icon. Each part was on display at this show, and he gave us what we came to hear with classic performances of “Bama Lama Bama Loo,” “Keep A Knockin,” “Lucille” and, of course, “Tutti Frutti.”

It was an honor and a privilege to be in the presence of this legendary performer who  helped create the fantabulous genre we call rock & roll.

Thank you, Little Richard!