NEW YORK, Jan. 14 (UPI) -- U.S. singer Little Richard says he decided not to attend the Georgia memorial service of his friend James Brown because the singer's death "was too much."
The "Tutti Frutti" singer told the New York Post that while he remained reasonably close to Brown, who he mentored in Georgia back in the 1940s, he could not bring himself to attend his recent funeral.
Brown died early Christmas Day in Atlanta of congestive heart failure.
"It was too much," Little Richard explained. "My brother passed on not long ago and I didn't need to go to another funeral right now."
The "Long Tall Sally" singer, whose real name is Richard Penniman, applauded those who did attend the funeral and offered his take on what the future held in store for him.
"I'm still here, still doing well, still kicking and still playing," said Penniman, who is set to perform Monday at the B.B. King Blues Club in New York. "I'm not ready to leave my highway. I'm still building it."
