Chuck Berry dead

[Nearly Sane]

Iconic



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cpitvLeNjuE

And an obituary from John Robb.


http://louderthanwar.com/chuck-berry-rip/#.WM2ySoTQyac.twitter

[Anchorman]

His ding-a-ling's gone silent.

[Nearly Sane]

It'll be sad if most people remember him for a novelty record. At base hardly any, if any, guitar driven music with a riff and and a back beat is not following on from Berry.

[Enki]

Chuck Berry had a particular place in my life. At my tender age of 16, along with artists such as Little Richard, Fats Domino, Jerry Lee Lewis, Elvis Presley, he was probably instrumental in making me colour blind, an attitude which has never left me. His influence led me to appreciate the blues and gospel music of such people as Robert Johnson, Howlin' Wolf, Blind Willie Johnson, Muddy Waters, Sister Rosetta Tharpe and many others too numerous to mention, and some of whom I have been privileged to see performing live. The influence of his brand of music eventually led me to listen with awe and fascination to all kinds of jazz, from the Louis Armstrong Hot 5 and Hot 7 sessions to the likes of Duke Ellington, Johnny Dodds, Count Basie, Coleman Hawkins..the list seems endless.He was a springboard for me wanting to play New Orleans Jazz, and forming a band in those heady days in my late teens and twenties.

Thank you, Chuck Berry. I loved your music, and I can say you helped me find my 'particular place to go.'

[Nearly Sane]

Chuck Berry had a particular place in my life. At my tender age of 16, along with artists such as Little Richard, Fats Domino, Jerry Lee Lewis, Elvis Presley, he was probably instrumental in making me colour blind, an attitude which has never left me. His influence led me to appreciate the blues and gospel music of such people as Robert Johnson, Howlin' Wolf, Blind Willie Johnson, Muddy Waters, Sister Rosetta Tharpe and many others too numerous to mention, and some of whom I have been privileged to see performing live. The influence of his brand of music eventually led me to listen with awe and fascination to all kinds of jazz, from the Louis Armstrong Hot 5 and Hot 7 sessions to the likes of Duke Ellington, Johnny Dodds, Count Basie, Coleman Hawkins..the list seems endless.He was a springboard for me wanting to play New Orleans Jazz, and forming a band in those heady days in my late teens and twenties.

Thank you, Chuck Berry. I loved your music, and I can say you helped me find my 'particular place to go.'

Enki,

That is such a lovely and sincere piece of writing. Could I get your permission to quote you without mentioning where or your pseudonym elsewhere because it says so many things that I love?

NS

[Enki]

Thanks for the compliments, Nearly. Of course you can, if you so wish. I'm just glad that my thoughts have an echo with you.

[Nearly Sane]

Thanks for the compliments, Nearly. Of course you can, if you so wish. I'm just glad that my thoughts have an echo with you.

Being a slightly different vintage to you, it was Stevie Wonder's Talking Book that triggered me to go searching. It was four years old, I was 12 but my sister used to play it and I just wanted to know more. There was so much to explore and I devoured the music - to be fair, I am a gourmand, more than a gourmet of music but you can't hear Superstition without hearing the influence of Johnny B. Goode.

[Enki]

Just noticed that Mick Jagger has just said this about him on Twitter:

He lit up our teenage years, and blew life into our dreams of being musicians and performers.

[Sassy]

'90 YEARS'  what an innings... Will they know if an angel getting their wings or chuck just playing with his ding-a-ling-a-ling?
My ding-a-ling everybody sing, I want you to play with my ding-a-ling.  Turtle creek will be quiet without him.

Contraversy... May her rest in peace and I pray for his family and friends that they might be comforted.

[Samuel]

I didn't know about his Mann act conviction. I know the details are very vague but this kind of thing always confuses me.  Society seems to have little mercy for sexual criminals now, like that footballer who was acquitted of rape and all the Rolf Harrison's etc. How then should we regard an icon like berry who's conviction apparently came off the back of a statement by a 14 year old girl? How long ago does something have to happen before we regard it as irrelevant?

I have no strong feeling about this. I find it genuinely confusing!

Also  not my intention to derail and the mods can move this if they wish.

[Nearly Sane]

It's not a derail as far as i can see. The subject of the thread is Chuck Berry in all facets. I remember the conviction being discussed in the 70s and 80s and it was treated as if it was all a misunderstanding and nothing serious but then as we look back, there are various cultural aspects of the time that may have lead to that attitude.

You then have to overlay the prevailing attitude of 50/60s attitudes to black people in the U.S. especially given that the first conviction was set aside on appeal. But it's probably impossible to know clearly what happened. But, for the sake of argument, let's say he had sex with Janice Escalante. Does it affect the work and his importance? No. Does it affect your perception of him? Yes, though I'm not sure my perception of him was particularly rosy.

There is the well known question of can you like like Wagner given the anti semitism. To me it's always been an ad hominem in that you shoukd be able to admire the music without having to like the person.

[Walter]

Being a slightly different vintage to you, it was Stevie Wonder's Talking Book that triggered me to go searching. It was four years old, I was 12 but my sister used to play it and I just wanted to know more. There was so much to explore and I devoured the music - to be fair, I am a gourmand, more than a gourmet of music but you can't hear Superstition without hearing the influence of Johnny B. Goode.

My boy gives a great rendition of Johnny B Goode, it was that tune that inspired him to take up the guitar. Thanks Chuck x

(I say my boy, he's 31 and 6 foot 4)

[Aruntraveller]

Just to echo Samuel's confusion and NS's comments - I am in agreement with both posters here, but still find I have some kind of cognitive dissonance going on in trying to square the various circles involved.

[SweetPea]

Rest in Peace, Chuck Berry..... you were my first introduction to the blues..... a master of your craft.

The energy in Chuck's performances never appeared to diminish over the years.

Here's Johnny B Goode.... with the wonderful 'duck walk':

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cQGCWf6azHY

[Enki]

I can't say I find it confusing, although I quite accept that others might. I loved Amy Winehouse's music, I think she was very talented and had a wonderful voice,  but I always accepted that her character was chaotic and her lifestyle was not something I approved of at at all. Similarly, George Best was a wonderfully talented footballer, but his lifestyle was not something that I would recommend.

[jeremyp]

I can't say I find it confusing, although I quite accept that others might. I loved Amy Winehouse's music, I think she was very talented and had a wonderful voice,  but I always accepted that her character was chaotic and her lifestyle was not something I approved of at at all. Similarly, George Best was a wonderfully talented footballer, but his lifestyle was not something that I would recommend.

Both Amy Winehouse and George Best were the principle victims of their problems, in that they differ from somebody convicted of having sex with a minor.

My opinion is that Chuck Berry was convicted and served his sentence. I firmly believe that somebody who has "paid their debt to society" deserves a second chance.

[Samuel]

That's a good point Jeremy and I agree completely. A lot of historical figures are being reassessed based on modern moral standards, but in this case you're right, he served his time and that should be an end to it

[Nearly Sane]

That's a good point Jeremy and I agree completely. A lot of historical figures are being reassessed based on modern moral standards, but in this case you're right, he served his time and that should be an end to it

Though it might be questioned whether in paying fines and pleading guilty to other charges, he avoided full punishment for his filming of women in his restaurants toilets and keeping the films in the 80s.

[jeremyp]

Though it might be questioned whether in paying fines and pleading guilty to other charges, he avoided full punishment for his filming of women in his restaurants toilets and keeping the films in the 80s.

He's turning out to be quite an unpleasant guy.

[wigginhall]

enki - great post that you did earlier.   I had my mind blown by Chuck Berry, Fats Domino and Elvis, at 15/16.   My dad disapproved, which made it that bit more flavoursome.    Great music.

[Samuel]

Though it might be questioned whether in paying fines and pleading guilty to other charges, he avoided full punishment for his filming of women in his restaurants toilets and keeping the films in the 80s.

Ummmmmmm. Riiiiiight. 

[Robbie]

He's turning out to be quite an unpleasant guy.

I read about all that a couple of years ago and frankly I wished I hadn't. It may be better not to know too much about people we admire. They all (musiciansfrom his era), appear to have been uncaring towards girls and women but that is no excuse.

Been a great fan of Berry and loved watching old concerts on television. He really knew how to work the audience and was so funny as well as being an accomplished musician.

Nevertheless I will always enjoy Chuck Berry's music, he was marvellous.

[Robbie]

Chuck Berry concert on BBC4 right now instead of the advertised Roy Orbison.