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Little Richard influenced the hit 'Please Please Please'

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Today's Morning Edition music is from James Brown and the Famous Flames with "Please Please Please," which was recorded 60 years ago Thursday.

When he moved to Macon, Ga., in the early 1950s Brown become friends with one of his inspirations, rising rock 'n' roll star Little Richard.

According to Etta James, Brown carried around a tattered old napkin because Richard had written the words "please please please" on it. He was convinced that he could make a song from those words.

What he came up with became the first song that the Famous Flames ever recorded and their first hit.