Saturday 18 March 2017

R.I.P. Chuck Berry (1926 - 2017)

cd cover of his latest cd



The Father of Rock and Roll. Thank you for everything, Chuck.
Deepest condolences to his wife, Themetta and his four children.
Chuck Berry's influence will live on forever.
#RIPChuckBerry








Charles Edward Anderson "Chuck" Berry (October 18, 1926 – March 18, 2017) was an American guitarist, singer and songwriter and one of the pioneers of rock and roll music. With songs such as "Maybellene" (1955), "Roll Over Beethoven" (1956), "Rock and Roll Music" (1957) and "Johnny B. Goode" (1958), Berry refined and developed rhythm and blues into the major elements that made rock and roll distinctive, with lyrics focusing on teen life and consumerism and music featuring guitar solos and showmanship that were a major influence on subsequent rock music.
Chuck Berry is included in several of Rolling Stone magazine's "Greatest of All Time" lists. In September 2003, the magazine ranked him number 6 in its list of the "100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time". In November his compilation album The Great Twenty-Eight was ranked 21st in Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Albums of All Time. In March 2004, Berry was ranked fifth on the list of "The Immortals – The 100 Greatest Artists of All Time".[7][84] In December 2004, six of his songs were included in "Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Songs of All Time": "Johnny B. Goode" (#7), "Maybellene" (#18), "Roll Over Beethoven" (#97), "Rock and Roll Music" (#128), "Sweet Little Sixteen" (#272) and "Brown Eyed Handsome Man" (#374). In June 2008, his song "Johnny B. Goode" ranked first in the "100 Greatest Guitar Songs of All Time. (Wikipedia)


The first gig was crazy. We struggled to get to the front, but I was lucky to have my two friends with me (Thanks to Alfred and Sascha) besides me, as they were protecting me from getting squeezed. The second time I was standing in the middle of the excited crowd and enjoyed the gig. Had the opportunity to get an autograph before the second show in Hamburg at the Fabrik. We although made to the big gig in Hamburg and that was very strange. We had good seats and the security-lady told me, not to be offended if anyone would stand in front of me. Well, I ended up stand at the front 😊 and asked to get on stage with some other fans. Fun time with fellow fans!
The last time we saw him, he played at an arena in Amsterdam, it was so great to see such a legend. Rest in peace, Mr. Berry!