Esquerita's flamboyant stage personality, wild piano style and stratospheric pompadour made a deep impression on Little Richard during his formative years. There's an infectious raw rhythm & blues energy in Esquerita's playing and pleasing vitality in his gruffer, more soulful vocals that sounds much less time-warped than a lot of other early rock & roll. Eskew Reeder Jr. (his real name) went to Nashville in 1958 to record his fabulous debut LP, Esquerita!, and other firecrackers - added here as bonus tracks - that made him a true innovator.