Little Richard to retire

Rock‘n’roll legend Little Richard today said he is to retire after five decades on the road.

The 69-year-old said his current tour of the US will be his last, and he will quit at the end of the year.

“I’ve been making music since I was eight years old, and I’m tired now,” he told the New York Post.

“I’ve never taken a vacation. I work every day, year in, year out.”

He said not even a phone call from the US President could persuade him to stay in the business.

“I think that when you get tired, it’s time to move over. Since this is the end, I’m gonna give everything I’ve got in every show I have left.”

He plans to return to his home state of Georgia to rest.

“I haven’t decided what I’m going to do, but I won’t be travelling for rock.”

The singer was a major influence on the Beatles, who first met him when they were an up and coming young band playing in Germany.

“Paul (McCartney) would watch me every night when I was up on stage. Paul idolised me and admired my energy.

“The way you see Mick Jagger and Tina Turner walk all over the stage is what I used to do. That’s where they all got it from.”