At the height of his commercial and artistic career, Little Richard renounced rock and roll during an Australian tour with Eddie Cochran and Gene Vincent and took up Christianity.

Richard interpreted the sight of the Sputnik satellite as a message from God to enter the ministry. Said Richard, “If you want to live with the Lord … you can’t rock ‘n’ roll too. God doesn’t like it.“ Richard soon launched a career as a gospel singer, but returned to rock and roll in 1962.