When tribute band Bootleg Beatles performed Roll Over Beethoven as part of their set list for the Cherish India Life Foundation at Mumbai’s Mahalaxmi Race Course on March 17, little would they have known that the man behind that song, Chuck Berry, would no longer be alive 24 hours later, passing away on the following day, at his residence located outside St. Louis in the U.S. Born Charles Edward Anderson Berry, “Chuck” was 90 years old at the time of his death, but his rocking and rollicking songs, bouncy guitar riffs, and onstage duck walk will survive forever.
One of my more recent connects with the legend occurred in 2014 when I was invited to video record my comments for the preview of Gibson Through The Lens — a photographic exhibition organised by guitar manufacturer Gibson on those legends that have utilised Gibson guitars – and, without any hesitation, I chose Chuck Berry.
What I did not know then is that, three years down the line, the artiste who was believed to be in retirement, would announce the release of a new album this year, his first in 38 years, simply called Chuck.
However, decades prior to that, I was listening to Berry’s compositions, not even remotely being aware of his existence then, and his influence on music history.
Like most youngsters in the ’70s, one of the earlier influences while listening to international music was undoubtedly The Beatles. It all commenced by my listening to their compilations, before moving in reverse and appreciating their stand-alone albums that were released prior to the compilations. Rock N Roll Music – released in 1976 – was one such compilation, a double-vinyl disc which I purchased from the now defunct Rhythm House in Mumbai, which still remains part of my collection. The name of the album itself was a Chuck Berry original composition, a fact that I captured years later, as also another track, Roll Over Beethoven, which also appeared on the same compilation. In fact, so-called Beatles rival band Rolling Stones’ debut song, Come On, which was released in 1963, also happened to be a Berry original, one of the 13 Berry tracks recorded so far by the Stones in their career [outdoing the Beatles, who recorded merely nine in comparison]. With a pedigree like that, there was little doubt about Chuck Berry’s credentials as a rock and roll great.
Others who have recorded Berry songs range from Elvis Presley, Cliff Richard, and Johnny Hallyday through The Animals, Kinks, Faces, AC/DC, Status Quo, and Sex Pistols to Jimi Hendrix, Emmylou Harris, David Bowie, Bob Dylan, and Bruce Springsteen. In fact, the Beach Boys used the tune of Berry’s Sweet Little Sixteen as the basis for their hit, Surfin USA, and had to credit Berry as a writer to avoid a lawsuit for plagiarism.
Berry’s lucky break in the recording industry occurred when he travelled to Chicago in May 1955 and met blues guitarist Muddy Waters, who suggested that Berry contact Leonard Chess who had, by then, set up his own record label, Chess Records.
In fact, the genesis/popularity of the company was superbly encapsulated in a 2008 musical biopic, written and directed by Darnell Martin, as Cadillac Records.
The film explores the musical era from the early 1940s to the late 1960s, chronicling the life of the influential Chicago-based record company, and a few key musicians who recorded for Chess Records.
For those interested, the film, released in 2008, starred Mos Def as Chuck Berry, Adrien Brody as Leonard Chess, and Jeffrey Wright as Muddy Waters. With Chess Records, Berry recorded Maybellene — his adaptation of country song Ida Red — which went onto sell over a million units, reaching no.1 on Billboard magazine's Rhythm and Blues chart.
Meanwhile, returning to Chuck Berry’s forthcoming album, Chuck, due for posthumous release on June 16, it was promoted by a lead song on March 22, Big Boys, which is available for preview on YouTube.
The album features family members Charles Berry Jr (on guitar), and Igrid Berry (on harmonica), who are provided an opportunity of showcasing their respective talent on an album that will be late father Chuck’s first one since 1979’s Rock It, containing new songs, all written and produced by Berry himself.
With the passing away of Chuck Berry, the world may have lost a popular music pioneer, but his Rock And Roll Music lives forever!
The writer has been part of the media and entertainment business for over 23 years. He still continues to pursue his hobby, and earns an income out of it.
