Chuck Berry turns ninety this October 18th. Born October 18th 1926. Rock on Chuck…if this video doesn’t do something for you…stick a fork in you…you’re done…you have passed over to the other side….
LA
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Just some thoughts:
CHUCK BERRY
“Just take those old records off the shelf, I’ll sit and listen to them by myself, today’s music ain’t got the same soul, I love that old time rock-n’-roll.”
Jerry Lee Lewis once called him the “Hank Williams of rock-n’- roll.” He was referring to Chuck Berry, his song writing and performing talents. Over the years I have seen Chuck Berry numerous times; even once saw him in prison. Now, that’s a story for another time.
In Peggy Sue Gerron book What Ever Happened to Peggy Sue, she describes what it was like the first time she saw Chuck Berry. “The house lights dimmed, and a hush swept across the audience–the calm before the storm. the Master of Ceremonies appeared, welcomed us and announced the first act. When the curtain opened to Chuck Berry belting out “Maybellene,” pandemonium broke out. Throughout the auditorium, people rose up out of their seats and began dancing where they stood. I’d never seen anything like it before in my life. I was mesmerized by both the audience and music that I thought I’d surely died and gone to heaven.”
A couple weeks ago, I was on the golf course when my cell phone rang. Normally, when I’m on the golf course I will let it ring, but I looked at it and thought, “Better take this call. I think I know who it is as the area code was for St. Louis.” I answered, “Larry, I got two tickets for this coming Wednesday night. You always told me if I ever got tickets to immediately call you.” My instructions to my friend, who was living in St. Louis, had always been, “If you can ever get tickets to the small club where Chuck Berry still plays a couple times a month, get them and call me, I’ll be there.”
The next Wednesday saw my friend and I and a bunch of other folks packed like sardines in a can in the basement of a small club in the heart of St. Louis. We were there to see eighty-six year old Chuck Berry do his thing. And do his thing he did! Now he is not the Chuck Berry of our 1950s’ days as his son and daughter helped him with various things while he was on stage. At times the lyrics seem to fade a bit and he still does an abbreviated duck walk; but he is still Chuck Berry.
I’ve told my oldest grandson, “When I’m old and you all have put me in the Home and I’m just sittin’ on the porch, get a convertible, load me up (of course the top must be down) and take me for a spin. Put on some of that good ol’ rock-n’- roll music like Elvis, Little Richard, Fats, Ricky, Dion, Jerry Lee and of course, Chuck. If you don’t get a rise out of me, take me back to the Home and tell them, he’s done.”
“Call me a relic, call me what you will, say I’m old fashion, say I’m over the hill
Today’s music ain’t got the same soul I love that old time rock-n’- roll.”
“I reminisce about the days of old.”
Yes, I do reminisce about the days of old and about a lot of people, places and happenings from that time. I do so more than often. You?
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June 25, 2011
Keep on,
Larry Adamson
This as you can see Chuck on Dick Clark’s Saturday night show. Clark had an daily afternoon show out of Philadelphia at the time along with this Saturday night show. Cohort and I seldom missed seeing this Saturday night show…notice the kids in the audience….how they are dressed,etc…..my times have changed….Chuck Berry…one of the all time greats of rock-n’-roll…
LA
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