As we survey the various uniquely American musical genres that Black Americans created (previously jazz and rhythm and blues), the role of one man in the creation of the most popular musical genre of all comes into play. Chuck Berry, dubbed "the Father of Rock and Roll," took his rhythm and blues roots, added a blazing electric guitar as rock's primary instrument, created stories in his songs that appealed to "the youth," and finished it off with a stage presence that was exciting and unique. Every rocker since owes their craft to Berry, from Presley to the Beatles to the Stones to Springsteen and beyond. The 1987 documentary "Hail! Hail! Rock 'n' Roll" chronicles two Berry concerts interspersed with interviews, rehearsal scenes, etc., and is not to be missed if you're interested in the origins of rock.
Berry's first hit was 1955's pioneering "Maybellene." From the first guitar chord, you knew you were listening to something completely different (especially in 1955). Borrowing parts from a Western swing song, Berry created a song that Rolling Stone ranks as the #18 greatest song of all time. Hope you enjoy.
