Saturday Night Live...
Chuck Berry the worlds first Rock and Roll Guitar God

      Born in St. Louis in 1926 and signed to Chess records in Chicago in 1955 Chuck Berry bridges the gap between the Muddy Waters blues era and what would eventually become the multi-generational rock and roll era.  He made the guitar the centerpiece of every rock band that would come after him and he inspired everyone that ever had rock star dreams.  From 1955 to 1964 he had at least 14 top 10 hits including 4 #1's on the R&B charts which is where black rock and roll lived in those days.

       It really is hard for us to imagine how shocking it was to our bifurcated society to have this black guy roll into town for a gig and have thousands of white kids turn out to dance and cheer.  Sometimes when he'd show up at a gig the venue would not allow him to play because the establishments were for white's only.  But when a well dressed group of nice middle class white kids threatened to become an angry mob they usually relented and let the "colored boy" do his thing.

      Chuck Berry is probably the single most influential musician in rock and roll history.  His songs have been covered & imitated by everyone from Aerosmith to ZZ Top.  While his radio airplay is what has become his lasting legacy this Rock and Roll Hall of Famer's live performances is what helped create the phenomenon that is rock and roll.  The images of racially mixed teenage audiences dancing together in the aisles was both liberating and subversive to the safe, conservative life enjoyed by white America.  

      

Please enjoy the Saturday Night Live feature in the link above, Chuck Berry live performing Roll Over Beethoven.

Comments and Requests:

 I want to say thank you to everyone who has written to me and tried to leave comments.  I don't know why but the "comments" section doesn't work very well.  I will try to fix it if I can.  If it doesn't work for you please send me an email at offthechartsblog@gmail.com.  I really want your feedback and I will take your requests to spotlight an artist of your choosing.  So email or comment if it will let you.  Thanks,  J