Black History Month: Hail! Hail! Rock 'N' Roll by Chuck Berry
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Hail! Hail! Rock ‘N’ Roll Original Motion Picture Soundtrack Chuck Berry and guests MCA Records Released 1987 Chuck Berry was born in St. Louis in 1926 and grew up in the Ville, a north St. Louis middle-class neighborhood. His father was a contractor and deacon at the Baptist church and his mother was a public school principal. Berry’s comfortable upbringing allowed him to pursue music. His first public performance was at his high school. However, while still in high school, he was arrested for armed robbery and landed in a reformatory school. He joined a quartet that was allowed to perform outside the facility. Upon release at age 21, Berry married and took various jobs to support his family. He soon achieved the same middle-class life that he had enjoyed as a child. He also began playing with local bands to earn extra income. During this period, Berry honed his stage show by borrowing heavily from T-Bone Walker. Berry played his guitar behind his head, between his legs, and introduced his famous “duck walk” while playing his guitar. In 1953 he joined a trio with pianist Johnnie Johnson that began a significant collaboration that would produce music that changed music forever. In 1955, Berry traveled to Chicago where Muddy Waters introduced him to Leonard Chess at Chess Records. Berry recorded his first major hit, “Maybellene.” Berry introduces the song on
Black History Month: Hail! Hail! Rock 'N' Roll by Chuck Berry
Black History Month: Hail! Hail! Rock 'N…
Black History Month: Hail! Hail! Rock 'N' Roll by Chuck Berry
Hail! Hail! Rock ‘N’ Roll Original Motion Picture Soundtrack Chuck Berry and guests MCA Records Released 1987 Chuck Berry was born in St. Louis in 1926 and grew up in the Ville, a north St. Louis middle-class neighborhood. His father was a contractor and deacon at the Baptist church and his mother was a public school principal. Berry’s comfortable upbringing allowed him to pursue music. His first public performance was at his high school. However, while still in high school, he was arrested for armed robbery and landed in a reformatory school. He joined a quartet that was allowed to perform outside the facility. Upon release at age 21, Berry married and took various jobs to support his family. He soon achieved the same middle-class life that he had enjoyed as a child. He also began playing with local bands to earn extra income. During this period, Berry honed his stage show by borrowing heavily from T-Bone Walker. Berry played his guitar behind his head, between his legs, and introduced his famous “duck walk” while playing his guitar. In 1953 he joined a trio with pianist Johnnie Johnson that began a significant collaboration that would produce music that changed music forever. In 1955, Berry traveled to Chicago where Muddy Waters introduced him to Leonard Chess at Chess Records. Berry recorded his first major hit, “Maybellene.” Berry introduces the song on