Sounds Berry Good

Song 347: This week on the playlist you can hear Rock and Roll Music by Chuck Berry, who also wrote it. Only 11 weeks ago, when I posted my second Chuck Berry track on this list, I did not expect to be posting another so soon, but following his death yesterday at age 90, I feel the need to commemorate the man as one of the major pioneers of Rock and Roll Music. Back when the Beatles first rocked my world in February of 1964, I knew nothing of the 1950s rockers, and I thought the Fab Four had invented RnR. It took a while before I clearly understood that 2 of my favorite Beatles recordings — Roll Over Beethoven (Song 236) and this song — had actually been written by an American musician I knew nothing about. Then, it wasn’t until I had finished my regular School Days, a bit after the turn of the 1970s, that I came to understand Chuck Berry’s pivotal role in the birth of the musical style that had captivated me. With a sort of 1950s revival happening on rock radio, I got to hear the classic golden oldies, and a Rolling Stone subscription filled in the details, to the point where it surprised me when a blues booking agent I knew told me that his girlfriend didn’t know who Chuck Berry was. Having realized Berry’s significance, I found it strange that someone with an interest in the music didn’t know about him. I would guess that these days most RnR fans recognize the value of Berry’s contributions to the form, and personally, I plan to honor his legacy by following his advice to keep on rocking that piano. Sure thing, Chuck! I’m glad to do it. It’s got to be Rock and Roll Music!