One of the early innovators of rock & roll, (Chuck Berry) I have rediscovered tonight through VH1 Classic airing the 1987 concert film "Hail, Hail Rock & Roll". Berry's 60th birthday celebration which included Keith Richards, Eric Clapton, Julian Lennon, Robert Cray, Linda Ronstadt and Etta James. The core members of the band were Steve Jordan on drums, Johnnie Johnson on piano, Chuck Leavell on organ, Joey Spampinato on bass, Bobby Keys on saxophone and Ingrid Berry on vocals.
He wrote a BUNCH of songs, all of which are standards of rock & roll to this day. The first time I heard Chuck Berry was hearing "No Particular Place To Go" on a car songs compilation at age six or seven (around 1992 or so). The full discography can be found at www.chuckberry.com. His biggest hits of course are "Maybellene" (1955), "Roll Over Beethoven" (1956), "Rock and Roll Music" (1957) and "Johnny B. Goode" (1958). He had singles on the charts every year between 1955 and 1961 with others to follow at different times between 1962 and 1979.
So, if you have heard of Chuck Berry and what he did (or even if you haven't), check out his catalog of songs. He, along with Elvis, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins, Buddy Holly and Bill Haley have to be the pioneers of what was known then and always will be known as rock and roll.
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