When I was a kid, there was specific visual and aural stimuli that was a part of early rock and roll that really appealed to an impressionable lad at the time…  the joyful shouts of Little Richard…  the piano pounding madness of Jerry Lee Lewis…  the shaking and quaking of Elvis…  and Chuck Berry’s duckwalk.  I was maybe ten or eleven years old when I caught some live snippets of these early heroes on a television show and I must say the excitement was palpable-  wow…  how do I get in on this?

Chuck Berry, one of the true early kings of rock and roll, died Saturday, March 18th in his St Louis area home at the age of 90.  His influence on music is undeniable and unmistakable but in many ways I still think he’s somewhat underrated in comparison with his peers, especially as a lyricist and keen use of word play.  Everything from motorvatin’ over hills (“Maybelline”), meeting German girls in England that go to school in France (“It Wasn’t Me”), playing a ringin’ a bell guitar (“Johnny B. Goode”), cruisin’ and playin’ the radio (“No Particular Place To Go”), and singing about reindeer (“Run Run Rudolf”), Chuck Berry painted vivid lyrical pictures that we could grasp and easily understand with some of the most amped up, high energy music that you could ask for.  Without Chuck Berry’s influence, it’s hard to imagine what the early compositions of the Beatles, Rolling Stones, Beach Boys, Johnny Winter, Geaorge Thorogood, etc, as they covered many a tune from his vast catalog.  He pushed the envelope of early rock and roll via some classic songs, great guitar playing, and overall sense of fun.

Oh yeah, I did kind of “get in on this” and I have Chuck to thank.  A few years after being swept up in the rock and roll excitement, I got together with a few friends and sang “Johnny B. Goode” as part of my high school’s variety show.  I didn’t do the leg spits and I didn’t do the duckwalk, but I was definitely caught up in the spirit of the moment and it remains one of my favorite “School Days” memories.  And if anyone ever needs me to hop up and sing it again 30+ years down the line, let me know because I would love to.  So thanks Chuck and rest in peace 🙂