Posted on 04/30/2017 5:08:04 AM PDT by Kaslin
The man who was as essential as Elvis Presley to making a music form (Rock ‘n’ Roll) a central part of the world the last 60 years has left us. Don McLean wrote about the music dying with the loss of the great Buddy Holly in his song classic, American Pie; but, with the passing of Chuck Berry, the music did die.
His career did not have an auspicious beginning. He left the security of his stable family life in a Black area of St. Louis to break some laws and end up with a 10-year sentence for armed robbery at the age of 18. His most notable musical experience before being released from jail at the age of 21 was singing in the prison choir as delineated in Brown Eyed Handsome Man by Bruce Pegg.
By his mid-20s he was fronting a band, playing the local circuit. Pegg writes of Berry’s ambitious efforts to move up the musical ladder as Rock was just bursting on the scene. Most Black artists were releasing songs that would climb the Billboard R & B chart to have their song covered by a white musical act that would significantly out sell the original recording. Those were the days of Race music when radio play for artists like Berry were in question as to whether the White audience would accept them. Berry wanted to change that.
Berry was introduced to Leonard Chess by Muddy Waters. Berry wanted to start a recording career and the Chicago entrepreneur was the vehicle for that. Though other Black artists had successful R & B hits, Berry’s Maybelline became the first cross-over hit climbing the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1955, eventually reaching No. 5. Berry’s hit became a cultural phenomenon and significant moment for Black Americans.1956 saw Berry releasing multiple classic songs, but he was eclipsed on the pop charts by other Black artists like Fats Domino who had a series of hits. Berry continued to roll out song after song, culminating in the 1958 release of his seminal song and the seminal song of the Rock ‘n’ Roll era – Johnny B. Goode. The autobiographical song cemented him in the history of music.
Rock ‘n’ Roll went through various changes in the next few years as the White establishment fought back with a series of acts like Bobby Darin, Fabian, Bobby Rydell and Paul Anka until the British invasion started in 1963. Berry was again thrust to the front of the music scene as both the Beatles and the Rolling Stones released covers of his hit songs as part of their adaptation to the American market. The first single the Stones ever released was a cover of the Berry hit Come On.
In 2011, Rolling Stone published a list of the top 500 Rock ‘n’ Roll songs of all time. Lists like this are completely subjective. Their choices are admirable, but there is no question what the No. 1 Rock ‘n’ Roll song of all time is -- Johnny B. Goode. They did list it at No. 7, but the song is far and away the definitive Rock song. The lyrics speak of essential elements of Rock and the music is superior. There has almost never been a garage band or any band that could not play and sing this song. Name another Rock song as ubiquitous. Everyone knows the lyrics and certainly the chorus by heart. It is the essential Rock song.
Rolling Stone did justice putting Maybelline at No. 18, but abused both Roll Over Beethoven and Rock & Roll Music, listing them at No. 97 and No. 129 respectively. These two songs are easily in the top 25 Rock songs of all time. There is a reason the Beatles recorded both early in their career. The sad thing is some people probably think they are Beatles songs.
These four songs and a boatload more by Mr. Berry changed the sounds we all hear and are the foundation on which Rock was built.
God bless you, Chuck. You changed the world.
Thanks for posting. I agree with the article.
Music has come a long way in the last thousand years.
Do some reading up on Chuck’s personal life.
I’m hardly a prude - but the man was vile.
Chuck was good on a guitar. Oddly, his nightclub in St Louis was caught with hidden cameras installed in the women’s bathroom stalls several years ago. I’m not sure if Chuck ever lost a dime over this, but he claimed it was for security reasons.
Saw him in AC in the late 1980s. He was great, don’t recall my date. One of the high points was his daughter singing “Bring It On Home”. “Havana Moon” was great as was now overplayed “Teen Aged Wedding”
An understatement. He was a good man with hidden security cameras in the women’s bathroom of his club. I think he claimed it was a black privilege thing.
Berry was a flawed human being(aren’t we all)but he was a musical genius who made history. Every Rock ‘n Roll artist ever born copied/stole/emulated Berry’s every lick, move, step, style, and attitude.
Everyone has their favorite rock and roll movie of all time, but for me it is Hail Hail Rock and Roll.
Keith Richard assembles a top-flight sessions band and brings in several megastars (Eric Clapton, Linda Ronstadt, et al) to celebrate Chuck’s 60th birthday at the Fox Theater in St Louis. Songs are interspersed with several interviews with Chuck and other artists, and you see the rehearsals and the battles Keith has with Chuck.
It’s right up there with Hard Days Night and The Last Waltz.
He had black celebrity status like Michael Jackson and Al Sharpton, so that fact and black privilege allowed him to get away with these crimes. Berry was also heavily into the porn business. People are easily starstruck.
Too much monkey business
Too much, too much monkey business
Too much monkey business for me to be involved in
A major biography of Elvis claimed that he sometimes took other men to a room at Graceland where they could see through a "one-way mirror" into a bathroom where women changed into swimsuits.
Let me begin by stating that Chuck Berry was indeed a man who suffered, like all of us, with a good number faults!!! But...IMHO, Chuck Berry was the undisputed “King Of Rock & Roll”!!! And those of us, White, Black, Brown or otherwise, that were teenagers in the 1950s-1960s know that to be fact.
I loved Elvis Presley and I loved Chuck Berry, both of them massive American Icons, Music Industry leaders and proud Americans. God bless both of them......you guys made us happy and stronger with faith in our great country!!! RIP...buddies.....millions of Americans, adore you now and will adore you forever!!! Me included!!!
“but the man was vile”
And was hardly a prude. But... There was about 8 minutes back in the early 70’s that I actually listened to Chuck. That said, there were a number of artists who released versions of Barry’s catalog and those were much better, recording techniques notwithstanding. Heck, even the Stones, who for the most part I almost completely abhor, redid Chuck and really brought it to life.
What did he do?
Not hearing nice things about this guy
RIP Chuck
I was a major fan of R&B music in the mid-’50s and there was a local radio station that played all of that music.
“Mabeline” (sp?) grabbed me and my friends at age 13-14 in 8th grade. One of Chuck’s songs about Memphis TN is still one of my favorites, as it told a story about a little daughter he was trying to reach.
He was a showman! Saw him in two large R&B/R&R concerts in Dallas in late ‘50s, with folks like Bo Diddly, Fats Domino, Jimmy Reed, The Imperials and many others.
r7r
I found this:
https://www.google.com/amp/nypost.com/2017/03/21/the-dark-past-of-chuck-berrys-scandal-filled-sex-life/amp/
Apparently he trafficked a 14 year old prostitute?
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