Overview

The story of the black, gay origins of rock n' roll. It explodes the whitewashed canon of American pop music to reveal the innovator – the originator – Richard Penniman. Through a wealth of archive and performance that brings us into Richard's complicated inner world, the film unspools the icon's life story with all its switchbacks and contradictions.

Cast

Little Richard

Self (archive footage)

John Waters

Self

Mick Jagger

Self

Billy Porter

Self

Tom Jones

Self

Paul McCartney

Self (archive footage)

Nona Hendryx

Self

N/A

Valerie June

Self

Nile Rodgers

Self

N/A

Fredara Hadley

Self

Alan Freed

Self (archive footage)

Elvis Presley

Self (archive footage)