Grady Gaines was a blues saxophone player best known for playing in Little Richard’s (1932–2020) band.Gaines was working as a session musician in 1955 when Little Richard asked him to join his backing band, the Upsetters.
He became the band’s leader, touring extensively with Richard for the next few years as well as playing sax on recordings including “Keep a Knockin’,” “Ooh My Soul,” and “I’ll Never Let You Go.” Gaines had an iconic moment with Richard in the 1957 movie “Mister Rock and Roll” – he jumped atop Richard’s piano and played his sax there.After Richard stepped away from secular music in 1958, the Upsetters continued on, backing other greats including Sam Cooke (1931–1964) and James Brown (1933–2006).
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