The Upsetters (Little Richard's backing band)

The story of this group is complicated. Little Richard founded it as touring group in late 1953, but dissolved it soon. Next in 1954 he re-created it with other musicians.
In 1955 Little Richard sent to Specialty two demos recorded with The Upsetters in February ("Baby" and "All Night Long"). These demos were issued only many years later. (The well-known versions of these songs were recorded by Little Richard and His Band in September 1955 and next released on Specialty singles and albums.)
The first Specialty session of Little Richard and The Upsetters was on 15 May 1956. Them recorded the slow version of "Heeby-Jeebies", also released only many years later.
Next on 6 September 1956 Little Richard and The Upsetters supported by Jewell Grant recorded five titles (including the hit "She's Got It" issued on Specialty 584, EP-400 and LP-100).
Finally two fruitful 1957 sessions by Little Richard and The Upsetters (16 January and 18 October) generated a lot of hits, including "Keep A-Knockin'", "Ooh! My Soul", "Boo Hoo Hoo Hoo (I'll Never Let You Go)", etc.
At the Ampol Radio Show (Australia, October 11, 1957) The Upsetters performed two hits, Lucille and Long Tall Saly, with Little Richard and also Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On with Eddie Cochran.
The session of 18 october 1957 was the last one of Little Richard for Specialty (and generally his last rock and roll session in the fifties). He abandoned this label, his Upsetters and generally rock and roll (Little Richard will return to Specialty only for a brief time in 1964, but this time without The Upsetters).
Circa 1960 as "The World Famous Upsetters" the group recorded four titles for Little Star Records (with the vocals of Little Richard, not mentioned on these releases of 1962-1963).
In late 1965 (and probably early 1966) The Upsetters as backing band recorded with Little Richard circa 15 titles for Modern.
Though The Upsetters was mentioned in Specialty session files, almost all Specialty (and Modern) releases credit the recordings by Little Richard and The Upsetters (just as by Little Richard and His Band) to sole Little Richard. That creates a problem for the database.
Since 1985 the group was re-founded as Grady Gaines and The Texas Upsetters and also known as The Texas Upsetters.