Chuck Berry, Father of Rock & Roll
- Thread starter Meanderer
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RadishRose
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- Connecticut, USA
My father loved Chuck Berry. He wore out the record Johnny B Goode, and I'm still tired of it.
I did like Chuck Berry, but Father of Rock and Roll? I dunno. I vote Little Richard for that title.
I did like Chuck Berry, but Father of Rock and Roll? I dunno. I vote Little Richard for that title.
In his interview, on Post#6, he does mention a list of "Founding Fathers" of R&R, including Little Richard. We have to remember that "success has many Fathers...."
Chuck also holds the title of "Prime Minister of R&R"!:format(jpeg):mode_rgb():quality(90)/discogs-images/R-14467030-1575127591-2229.jpeg.jpg)
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"As well as suggesting that the guitar player is good, the title hints at autobiographic elements, because Berry was born at 2520 Goode Avenue, in St. Louis. The song was initially inspired by Johnnie Johnson, the regular piano player in Berry's band, but developed into a song mainly about Berry himself".
"Chuck Berry was born October 18, 1926, at 6:59 a.m. inside a small home at 2520 Goode Avenue, now known as Annie Malone Drive. The family moved a few years after Berry's birth, and the home was soon torn down for construction of Homer G. Phillips Hospital/Senior Apartments".
"Chuck Berry was born October 18, 1926, at 6:59 a.m. inside a small home at 2520 Goode Avenue, now known as Annie Malone Drive. The family moved a few years after Berry's birth, and the home was soon torn down for construction of Homer G. Phillips Hospital/Senior Apartments".
Havana Moon - Chuck Berry (Chess Records) 1956, 78 rpm! A Direct Recording!
"Berry’s story of a Cuban woman missing an American woman came from playing Nat King Cole’s “Calypso Blues” when Berry was still slugging it out at St. Louis’ Cosmopolitan Club at a time when Latin rhythms were popular. He decided to write his own song after a gigging in New York City, where he met Cubans for the first time".
“It is the differences in people that I think gives me a tremendous imagination to create a story for developing a lyric,” he wrote in his autobiography. “I had read, seen or heard in some respect all the situations in the Havana story. Certainly, missing the boat and surely missing the girl had bene experienced many times by me.” The Rolling Stones recently paid tribute to the song by naming a concert film, shot in Cuba, after the song".
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Channelling Chuck Berry
Chuck Berry's son, Charles Berry Jr., speaks about his father's musical and political legacy"When Chuck Berry died on March 18 at the age of 90, he left behind many things, including a legacy of inventive guitar riffs, genre-pioneering songs and a flair for narrative songwriting that explored and entertained the fledgling North American teen culture of the 1950s. He also left behind Chuck, his swan song and first studio album in 38 years. The recording features his only son, Charles Berry Jr., on guitar".
Chuck Berry’s final studio album, Chuck, features his only son, Charles Berry Jr., on guitar.
“My Dad Was A Poet”: Charles Berry Jr. On His Father Chuck’s Legacy
“His ability to communicate a message was just outstanding,” says Charles. “That really comes from the background that my dad was first and foremost a poet, and he learned his poetry skills from his father. So he was able to adapt his poetry, which really required the cadence and his articulation of the words to convey a message".
“That, in combination with the fact that my dad’s mom was a teacher, so diction was extremely important to her. You are what your environment is, so [Chuck] melded what he had in his environment into something that turned out to be quite good from a lyrical standpoint.”
RadishRose
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- Location
- Connecticut, USA
All righty, then!In his interview, on Post#6, he does mention a list of "Founding Fathers" of R&R, including Little Richard. We have to remember that "success has many Fathers...."
Damaged Goods
Member
- Location
- Maryland
Many pundits argue that the guitarists who influenced Chuck's style, such as Carl Hogan, who played guitar for saxophonist Louis Jordan are the fathers. Others say Jacky Brenston whose rocker "60-Minute Man" crossed-over to pop charts in 1951.
I would argue that Fats Domino is more father than Chuck or Little Richard. Something from the 40s:
But there's no doubt that Fats, Chuck, and Rich brought the genre successfully to mainstream music.
My take is that Elvis is the King and Chuck is the Emperor and America's Troubador.
I would argue that Fats Domino is more father than Chuck or Little Richard. Something from the 40s:
But there's no doubt that Fats, Chuck, and Rich brought the genre successfully to mainstream music.
My take is that Elvis is the King and Chuck is the Emperor and America's Troubador.
fmdog44
Well-known Member
- Location
- Houston, Texas
Buddy Holly may have been King had he not died so young. Fact is there really can't be a single king.
Damaged Goods
Member
- Location
- Maryland
He was in my top 5 but believed that r&r was on its way out. In one of the video interviews captured on YouTube he said as much and added that he was collaborating with orchestrator Dick Jacobs to introduce more pop music into his repertoire. He liked the sound of violin strings for accompaniment. R&r did not die out but the gritty 50's version of it was a changing and who really knows what would've transpired.
Was Chuck Berry the lone genius he’s made out to be? (link)
"In the days following Chuck Berry’s death, commentators have trampled over each other in a race to honor him as the “Father of Rock and Roll,” the art form’s lodestone and mastermind. They’ve marveled at his songs, not just because of how witty, influential and danceable they were, but because they were the work of Berry alone"."A few have mentioned a lawsuit involving Berry’s longtime piano player Johnnie Johnson, where Johnson claimed he was Berry’s co-writer, but which the court dismissed because he took too long to sue. And that’s all they say".
"As a St. Louis lawyer, teacher and music geek, I had heard about the case a few years back and wondered if there was more to the story than simply “Johnson sued too late.” (Continue)
Johnnie & Chuck
Have Mercy Judge
Lyrics"
Have Mercy Judge
Chuck BerryHave mercy, I'm in a world of trouble now
I'm being held by the State Patrol
I am charged with traffic of the forbidden
And I almost finished doing my parole
Now, I'm on my way back down town
Somebody help me, have mercy on my soul
I go to court tomorrow morning
And I got the same judge I had before
Lord, I know he won't have no mercy on me
'Cause he told me not to come back no more
He'll send me away to some stoney mansion
In a lonely room and lock the door
Ow! Have mercy on my little Tulane
She's too alive to try to live alone
And I know her needs
And although she loves me
She's gonna try to make it
While the poor boy's gone
Somebody should tell her to live
And I'll understand it
And even love her more
When I come back home
Source: Musixmatch
Songwriters: Chuck E. Berry