Today even the angels have the good fortune to learn about Rock ‘n’ Roll and its King. With great sadness we salute Chuck Berry (passed away yesterday March 18,2017). An almost centenary genius who revolutionized music, effectively transforming the Rock ‘n’ Roll in a pillar of all modern rock and moreover.
He managed to cultivate his passion for music from his turbulent childhood in Missouri (born October 18, 1926, in St. Louis from a middle class family), beginning with the first concerts at school and also learning the ‘hard’ way (he was arrested for an armed robbery in 1944). By 1953 he was playing with Johnnie Johnson’s trio and already begins to show his qualities as a front man, and soon after thanks to Muddy Waters, along with Leonard Chess, produced his first hit: ‘Maybellene’. One million copies sold in 50 years.
But Chuck’s wild spirit remained rebellious and despite the success, so back behind bars, following allegations that he had sexual intercourse with a 14-year-old Apache waitress. The years pass and Chuck continued to produce high value music as ‘Roll Over Beethoven’, ‘Johnny Be Goode’, ‘Sweet Little Sixteen’.
End of 1950’s he invested in real estate, among with his early appearance in two rock ‘n’ roll movies, having non-speaking roles (“Rock Rock Rock”, 1956), “Johnny, Go!”, 1959). And for years when rock began revolutionizing the world, in The Beatles’ and The Rolling Stones’ era, Berry’s songs affected everyone and everything.
Suffice to also think about legends like Bruce Springsteen, Steve Miller, Eric Clapton, Etta James among many others.
A life always at maximum, accompanied by his priceless Gibson, which was an example for many artists and for those who will be in the future. A revolutionary Myth, without whom today we wouldn’t talk about rock.
Today the whole rock world feels like an orphan.
Good Bye Chuck, rock ‘n’ roll innovator…
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