Posted on 03/18/2017 4:55:17 PM PDT by lbtbell
Chuck Berry, who died Saturday at 90, was one of the architects of rock'n'roll as a singer, songwriter and guitarist. More than any artist of the '50s, his songs exploded with imagery that saw rock'n'roll not just as a fad but as the future -- a vision of freedom that transcended generation and race.
Berry's opening solo on "Johnny B. Goode" blared reveille for subsequent generations of rockers. Every rock guitarist since is in his debt. In addition, Berry wrote and sang at least two dozen rock'n'roll classics, including Maybellene, Roll Over Beethoven, and Back in the U.S.A., many of them recorded at Chicago's Chess Studios in the 1950s and '60s and later covered by countless artists, including the Beatles, Beach Boys and Rolling Stones.
"If you tried to give rock and roll another name, you might call it 'Chuck Berry'," John Lennon once said.
He was one of rock'n'roll's defining figures, and also one of its most notorious -- he was imprisoned three times over his life for various offenses.
St. Charles County (Missouri) police said officers responded to a medical emergency on Buckner Road about 12:40 p.m. Saturday. Inside the home, they "observed an unresponsive man and immediately administered lifesaving techniques." Berry was pronounced dead at 1:26 p.m. The department released a statement confirming the death of Charles Edward Anderson Berry Sr., better known as legendary musician Chuck Berry.
(Excerpt) Read more at chicagotribune.com ...
Here’s a video of him playing it - unfortunately it has the leftist commandeered RnR hall of fame polluting it in the beginning - but once you get past that, it’s awesome.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9jKrHzps0XM
He continues to entertain me through his music. I bet he’s pigeon-walking through the Pearly Gates just now. What a great talent.
...and Jerry Lee Lewis
He sang “Brown-eyed Handsome Man,” one of my favorites. Thanks for the memories, Chuck.
He worked some great humor into his songs:
No particular place to go
So we parked way out on the kokomo
The night was young and the moon was bold
So we both decided to take a stroll
Can you imagine the way I felt?
I couldn’t unfasten her safety belt
Ridin’ along in my calaboose
Still tryin’ to get her belt aloose
All the way home I held a grudge
But the safety belt it wouldn’t budge
Cruisin’ and playin’ the radio
With no particular place to go
RIP Chuck. Thanks for all the great music!
https://youtu.be/-nGmA40EmMo
Thought we had list Fats in 05 when he was miraculously rescued via rowboat from an upstairs window during Katrina.
I would add Jerry Lee Lewis. As one of the last pioneers of R&R.... Rockabilly branch.
Wish I could have seen him live. Saw Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins and Jerry Lee. Even saw Jimi Hendrix. But Chuck was the REAL king of Rock and Roll.
Of all the “founders, only the Killer is still alive.
I saw an interview where he said playing multiple strings lead was an accident because his fingers were too fat. I wish I had that problem.
Yeah, I caught myself on JLL a couple posts later.
R.I.P.
Chuck is the real King Of Rock n’ Roll
He didn’t come to fame playing music written by others.
Others came to fame playing music written by Chuck.
Best Rock N’ Roll song of all time:
Chuck Berry - Johnny B. Goode
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZFo8-JqzSCM
Chuck Berry - Johnny B. Goode (Live 1958)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ROwVrF0Ceg
Chuck Berry & John Lennon - Johnny B. Goode
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kpTpxbnBWYM
Awesome! Thanks!
Saw him in a Hollywood Club in the early 80’s. IIRC his very attractive Daughter opened the show with her own band. Mind you it was 34 or so years ago.
You can see him here on a Berry/Clapton version of the song. Johnson shown from about the 1:30 mark.
Nice tribute by Keith Richards to the trademarked Berry bent-knee walk, too.
Keith’s been dead for years. The ongoing fermentation makes it seem like he’s moving. When he finally bursts you’ll know.
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