Charles Connor was an American drummer, best known as a member of Little Richard's band.
13 Facts About Charles Connor
1.
2.
Charles Connor's father was a merchant mariner from Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic and his mother was a native Louisianan.
3.
Charles Connor received his first drum kit at the age of five.
4.
Charles Connor played on the January and October, 1957 versions.
5.
On 1957's "Keep A-Knockin'", Charles Connor played a four-bar drum intro that John Bonham later imitated in the opening of Led Zeppelin's "Rock and Roll".
6.
At times when Charles Connor was not working with Richard, he drummed with James Brown, after Richard connected The Famous Flames with his promoter Clint Brantley.
7.
Brown described Charles Connor, while playing in Richard's mid-1950s band, as "the first [drummer] to put funk into the rhythm".
8.
Charles Connor issued two books, Keep a Knockin and Don't Give Up on Your Dreams, the latter an inspirational tome.
9.
Charles Connor was inducted to the Louisiana Music Hall of Fame in 2010.
10.
Charles Connor was working on an autobiographical documentary up until his death.
11.
Charles Connor was married to Zenaida for over three decades until his death.
12.
Charles Connor died on July 31,2021, at his home in Glendale, California, under hospice care.
13.
Charles Connor was 86, and suffered from normal pressure hydrocephalus prior to his death.