Charles Connor Passes Away: 86 Year Old Drummer For Little Richard Dies Due To Old Age

Charles Connor, the acclaimed drummer is known for being Little Richard’s drummer also performed with other music maestros to name a few James Brown and Sam Cooke, has died at the age of  86.

Queenie Connor Sonnefeld, the daughter of Connor informed that her father died peacefully in his sleep early Saturday while under the care of health services at his home in Glendale, California. She further informed that the popular drummer Charles Connor had been diagnosed with normal pressure hydrocephalus, a brain disorder that causes fluid buildup.

Queenie Connor Sonnefeld missed her father and called the drummer a “great father” who was always affirmative and an optimistic person who achieved his dreams.

Talking about Charles Connor’s career, he began playing drums at a very early age of 12. A few years later, Connor started his professional career when ProfessorLonghair, a popular singer and pianist, for the very first time hired him as a last-minute replacement for the 1950 Mardi Gras in New Orleans.

As Connor turned 18, he associated with Richard’s original road band named “The Upsetters”. The band performed in several popular commercial films including “The Girl Can’t Help It” with Jayne Mansfield with “Don’t Knock the Rock” and “Mr. Rock‘n’ Roll.”

During Charles Connor’s career, he performed across the globe with various musicians such as James Brown, Jackie Wilson, and the original Coasters. He is a proud recipient of a certificate of special recognition from Rep. Maxine Waters in1994.

Charles Connor also published a book based on motivation titled “Don’t Give up YourDreams: You Can Be a Winner Too!” in 2008, later he was conscripted into the Louisiana Music Hall of Fame two years later.

Connor released his EP album in 2013, “Still Knockin.” In the recent past, he was busy with his autobiographical film.

Queenie Connor Sonnefeld remembered her father as “He was one of those drummers that were a bricklayer of creating that rock n’ roll genre. He played behind so many legendary musicians in the 1950s. He was a loving grandfather and was very proud of his family and took a lot of pride in his contributions to rock n’ roll.”