RIP Chuck Berry

Of all the founding fathers of rock & roll, Chuck Berry, is in my mind, the greatest.  He wrote the music and lyrics, he was a guitar slinger, he had a great voice, he had the look and he had the moves.

His 1982 compilation The Great Twenty Eight opened my mind to the foundations of rock. Without Chuck there would be no Beatles or Stones.  He was a true original.  I had the good fortune of seeing him live when he was still a pretty spry guy in his late 50s.  The term legend gets overused, but Chuck was a legend. So long brown eyed handsome man, RIP.

My favorite Chuck song is “Memphis.”  Pure rock & roll poetry.

Long distance information, give me Memphis Tennessee
Help me find the party trying to get in touch with me
She could not leave her number, but I know who placed the call
‘Cause my uncle took the message and he wrote it on the wallHelp me, information, get in touch with my Marie
She’s the only one who’d phone me here from Memphis Tennessee
Her home is on the south side, high up on a ridge
Just a half a mile from the Mississippi Bridge

Help me, information, more than that I cannot add
Only that I miss her and all the fun we had
But we were pulled apart because her mom did not agree
And tore apart our happy home in Memphis Tennessee

Last time I saw Marie she’s waving me good-bye
With hurry home drops on her cheek that trickled from her eye
Marie is only six years old, information please
Try to put me through to her in Memphis Tennessee