21 March, 2017
The Whiskey Chronicles: Stephen Williams
https://cincymusic.com/news/2017/03/the-whiskey-chronicles-stephen-williams
20 March, 2017
Chuck Berry: Enough said
People have debated who the real "king" of rock n roll is. The list is endless with the likes of Bill Haley, Les Paul, or most notably Elvis. Everyone who has been annointed this title is certainly worthy of such a title, however, for me at least the king of rock n roll is Chuck Berry.
What is in a title anyhow? Or, a label? This doesn't do much for anyone as the body of work will speak for itself, or at least it should. Chuck Berry may not hve sold as many records as say Elvis, but he did leave an indelible mark on Rock n Roll. His sound lead to inspiring a generation of guitar players from Keith Richards, Angus Young, and Steve Jones, and so on. Elvis crooned and wooed whie Chuck sweated out every note, did the splits, and was more raw and was the antithesis of "cez la vie."
He had his issues, as do many of us, he probably wasn't the greatest person off the stage. But, there was nobody like him when he was on it. His personal life is that of his own. It is not my business to judge him by that, becasue for me his music is more important to me. All "kings" have flawas some greater than others, and for some far worse than others. The catalogue of songs that he left behind is vast and will remain much like any great work of art.
When I first heard him I was in awe. The sound he was getting from his guitar is recognizable wherever you are. His way through a song is incredible. Fitting so much into two and a half minute or three-ish of just pure rock has always been surreal for this listener. I was young when I heard his songs on the oldies station back home in Chicago, and with the classis film "Pulp Fiction" and his song "You Never Can Tell" on the soundtrack really opened my eyes to his sound. "Rollover Beethoven" I was fortunate enough to have known already through The Beatles, and Jimi Hendrix I had heard play "Johnny B Goode," and others, and for this 37 year old from the suburbs of Chicago his sound for me IS Rock N Roll.
In short, listen to some Chuck Berry. Go an adventure through his catalogue. Plenty of music to sift through, and delve deep in. Rest in Peace Mr Chuck Berry, The king of Rock N Roll.
What is in a title anyhow? Or, a label? This doesn't do much for anyone as the body of work will speak for itself, or at least it should. Chuck Berry may not hve sold as many records as say Elvis, but he did leave an indelible mark on Rock n Roll. His sound lead to inspiring a generation of guitar players from Keith Richards, Angus Young, and Steve Jones, and so on. Elvis crooned and wooed whie Chuck sweated out every note, did the splits, and was more raw and was the antithesis of "cez la vie."
He had his issues, as do many of us, he probably wasn't the greatest person off the stage. But, there was nobody like him when he was on it. His personal life is that of his own. It is not my business to judge him by that, becasue for me his music is more important to me. All "kings" have flawas some greater than others, and for some far worse than others. The catalogue of songs that he left behind is vast and will remain much like any great work of art.
When I first heard him I was in awe. The sound he was getting from his guitar is recognizable wherever you are. His way through a song is incredible. Fitting so much into two and a half minute or three-ish of just pure rock has always been surreal for this listener. I was young when I heard his songs on the oldies station back home in Chicago, and with the classis film "Pulp Fiction" and his song "You Never Can Tell" on the soundtrack really opened my eyes to his sound. "Rollover Beethoven" I was fortunate enough to have known already through The Beatles, and Jimi Hendrix I had heard play "Johnny B Goode," and others, and for this 37 year old from the suburbs of Chicago his sound for me IS Rock N Roll.
In short, listen to some Chuck Berry. Go an adventure through his catalogue. Plenty of music to sift through, and delve deep in. Rest in Peace Mr Chuck Berry, The king of Rock N Roll.
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