Chuck Berry

Chuck Berry: Breaking Down Barriers

1926--born in San Jose
- moved to St. Louis with his family at an early age
he became a black C&W singer (!!) & cosmetician
1944-47 (late teens early 20s)—reform school (attempted burglary), then GM assembly line
while working at GM, he formed the Chuck Berry Trio
- heard by famous bluesman Muddy Waters who suggested an audition w/Leonard Chess (Chess Records)
- auditioned w/"Ida Red" (C&W song popularized by Bob Wills & His Texas Playboys)
- Leonard Chess renamed the song, changed the lyrics, and issued as "Maybellene"
- Alan Freed, in exchange for being listed as coauthor, agreed to promote the record
  - not an uncommon arrangement at the time (form of payola)

Maybellene

(#5, 1955; #1 R&B)s

lyrics speak to teen society about everyday concerns
- cars, girls, school, rock music, & problems of growing up
Berry became the "King of Rock Anthems," letting teenagers know that it's OK to be a teenager, OK to have your own music, & don't let anybody tell you what music is "good" or "bad"
- e.g., "Roll Over Beethoven," "Johnny B. Goode," "School Days," etc.
  
  "Maybelline"

Dawson & Propes on "Maybellene"

Berry was the model for rock guitar style as it became the central instrument in rock

Johnny B. Goode (commentary)

(#8, 1958)

Roll Over Beethoven

Chuck Berry was influential on the development of Rock Music ... listen to this direct influence his music had on the Beach Boys!!

Sweet Little Sixteen

Surfin' USA

1963--hit #3; 1974 (rereleased)--hit #36,
composer credit now given to Chuck Berry!!

School Day (Ring, Ring Goes the Bell)

(#3, 1958; #1 R&B)

developed his infamous "duck walk"
1959--arrested for violating the Mann Act
- took a 14 yr old prostitute across several state lines (Texas to St. Louis) to work in his club as hatcheck girl; fired her, then she went to the police
- convicted in racially-motivated trial, overturned, then convicted in 2nd trial
- sentenced to 2 years in Federal Prison + fine
- released in 1964
1972—"My Ding-a-Ling" (only #1 song; when Berry was 46 yrs old!)
1979—charged with tax evasion (100-day prison term)
1986—one of the 1^st inductees into the R&R Hall of Fame
1988—paid $250 to settle a $5 million dollar lawsuit from a woman whom Berry allegedly "punched in the mouth"
1990—police raided home & found 62 grams of marijuana along with video tapes of women (including a minor) taken in the restrooms in his club!!