Little Richard
1984–1999: Comeback

In 1984, Richard filed a $112 million lawsuit against Specialty Records, Art Rupe and his publishing company, Venice Music, and ATV Music for not paying royalties to him after he left the label in 1959. The suit was settled out of court in 1986. According to some reports, Michael Jackson allegedly gave him monetary compensation for his work, which he co-owned with Sony-ATV, songs by the Beatles and Richard. In September 1984, Charles White released the singer's authorized biography, Quasar of Rock: The Life and Times of Little Richard, which returned Richard to the spotlight. Richard returned to show business in what Rolling Stone referred to as a "formidable comeback" following the book's release.

Reconciling his roles as evangelist and rock and roller for the first time, Richard stated that the genre could be used for good or evil. After accepting a role in the film Down and Out in Beverly Hills, Richard and Billy Preston penned the faith-based rock and roll song "Great Gosh A'Mighty" for its soundtrack. Richard won critical acclaim for his film role and the song found success on the American and British charts. The hit led to the release of the album Lifetime Friend (1986) on Warner Bros. Records, with songs deemed "messages in rhythm", including a gospel rap track. In addition to a version of "Great Gosh A'Mighty", cut in England, the album featured two singles that charted in the UK, "Somebody's Comin'" and "Operator". Richard spent much of the rest of the decade as a guest on television shows and appearing in films, winning new fans with what was referred to as his "unique comedic timing."

In 1988, he introduced a new song written by his guitarist, Travis Wammack ("King of the Swamp Guitar"), "(There's) No Place Like Home", a slow, reflective biographical Country ballad, which fans believed would become a major Country hit. It was performed at major musical events and captured on a commercial video from Italy and released in an Australian DVD. (Seven years later, a single was pressed but withdrawn. Richard discovered it was bootlegged.) That same year, he surprised fans with a tribute to Otis Redding at his Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony, singing several Redding songs, including "Fa Fa Fa Fa Fa (Sad Song)", "These Arms of Mine", and " (Sittin' on the) Dock of the Bay ". Richard told Redding's story and explained how his 1956 tune "All Around the World" was Redding's reference on his 1963 side, "Hey, Hey Baby". In 1989, Richard provided rhythmic preaching and background vocals on the extended live version of the U2 – B.B. King hit " When Love Comes to Town ". That same year, Richard returned to singing his classic hits following a performance of "Lucille" at an AIDS benefit concert.

In 1990, Richard contributed a spoken-word rap on Living Colour 's hit song, " Elvis Is Dead ", from their album Time's Up. That same year he appeared in a cameo for the music video of Cinderella 's " Shelter Me ". In 1991, he appeared the home video Detonator Videoaction 1991 by the hair metal band Ratt, and the same year, he was one of the featured performers on the hit single and video " Voices That Care " that was produced to boost the morale of U.S. troops involved in Operation Desert Storm. The same year, he recorded a version of " The Itsy Bitsy Spider " for the Pediatric AIDS Foundation benefit album For Our Children. The album's success led to a deal with Walt Disney Records, resulting in the release of a hit 1992 children's album, Shake It All About.

In 1994, Richard sang the theme song to the award-winning PBS Kids and TLC animated television series The Magic School Bus. He also opened Wrestlemania X from Madison Square Garden that year miming to his reworked rendition of " America the Beautiful ".

Throughout the 1990s, Richard performed around the world and appeared on TV, film, and tracks with other artists, including Jon Bon Jovi, Elton John, and Solomon Burke. In 1992 he released his final album, Little Richard Meets Masayoshi Takanaka, featuring members of Richard's touring band.
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