Chuck Berry was born Charles Edward Anderson Berry on October 18, 1928 in St Louis.  He was an American singer, songwriter, guitarist and considered one of the rock and roll music pioneers.  Chuck was nicknamed "Father of Rock and Roll" and developed a rhythm and blues style that was unique and made rock and roll distinctive.  His songs like "Maybellene" (1955), "Roll Over Beethoven" (1956), "Rock and Roll Music"  (1957) and "Johnny B. Good" (1958) were songs related to teen life with a rocking guitar and all his showmanship.  Chuck Berry had a major role and influence on future rock music.

Berry grew up in St. Louis and had an interest in music from an early age.  He first performed in High School but was convicted of armed robbery and sent to reformatory from 1944 to 1947.  Berry married upon release  and went to work at an automobile assembly line. Blues musician T-Bone Walker was a great influence on Berry with his great guitar riffs and showmanship.  He played with the Johnnie Johnson Trio.  He met Muddy Waters in 1955 who suggested he contact Leonard Chess.  With Chess, he recorded "Maybellene".  Berry actually wanted to record "Ida Red".  He wrote new lyrics and used the same rhythm as "Ida Red".  It sold over a million copies, reaching number one on the Billboard Charts.  

At the end of the 1950s, Chuck Berry was a successful recording artist.  He had several hit records, film appearances and was  making lots of money touring.  Unfortunately Berry transported a 14 year old girl across state lines and was sentenced to three years in prison in 1962.  Upon his release in 1963, Berry had more hits with "No Particular Place to Go", "You Never Can Tell", and "Nadine".  By the 1970's Berry toured playing his past hits and in demand as a nostalgic performer.  In 1972, his hit "My Ding a Ling" was one hit that reached the top of the charts.

Berry always insisted on being paid in cash.  This brought on another 4 month jail sentence for tax evasion.

Chuck Berry was one of the first musicians to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1986.  He is in the  Rolling Stone magazine's  "greatest of all time" lists, he was ranked fifth on 2004 and 2011 lists of the 100 Greatest Artists of All Time.  

One of the biggest honors of all time, Berry's "Johnny B. Goode" is the only rock and roll song included on the Voyager Spacecraft's Golden Record. 

The Voyager Spacecraft Launched in 1997.  The records onboard contain sounds and images selected to portray the diversity of life and culture on Earth, and are intended for any intelligent extraterrestrial life form who may find the Spacecraft.  The records are a sort of time capsule.

On July 4th, 1954 when a young truck driver with a tough exterior, slightly long hair, flashy clothes and a crooked half smile entered Sun Records to record a Christmas song for his mother, Sam Phillips knew he had found what he was looking for. He certainly found what he was looking for in Elvis Presley, a star who even to this day is referred to as "The King of Rock and Roll".

During his lifetime, it is believed that he sold over 1 billion records and earned more awards and chart-topping positions than any other artist in history. It all began during a recording break with an impromptu rendition of an old R&B song by Al Crudup called "That's Alright Mamma". When Phillips realized that it was the sound he was looking for, he asked if he could re-record it, and within days of playing it on air at a local radio station, it became one of Elvis's first overwhelming successes.

 Elvis then began appearing regularly in local venues with two other musicians. It is said that in his first shows, Presley's legs shook uncontrollably with nerves, causing teenage girls to "go crazy." These moves became an Elvis trademark and along with some other cowboy antics, were incorporated into his shows. By 1956-57, Elvis had became a national star and teen idol. He sang in prime time television shows, debuted on popular local radio stations and performed with unprecedented riot-filled success.

One reporter nicknamed Elvis Presley "Elvis the Pelvis" because of the way he moved his hips when he danced. His style was seen as too suggestive for his day and in order to maintain a sense of decency, television stations only permitted Elvis to be filmed from the waist up.

 His first movie called Love Me Tender made a million dollars within three days of being launched. All of his singles in that year went "gold" and included hits such as Heartbreak Hotel (which sold in excess of $1 million dollars in just a few months), Blue Suede Shoes, Hound Dog, My Baby Left Me, Love Me Tender, Jailhouse Rock and Hound Dog.

Between 1958 and 1960 Elvis joined the US Army and served in Germany. His fans were still able to see him in many films he had made prior to leaving and when he came back he recorded a number of other hits such as Are you Lonesome Tonight, Can't Help Falling In Love, Return To Sender and Suspicious Minds.

 As Elvis aged, he became increasingly more unfit on stage and died in 1977 of a drug overdose. Today, even more than 30 years after his death, millions of people from all over the world still pay homage to this memorable artist at his former residence called "Graceland"

 Source: - History of Rock and Roll - Fact Sheet,  2010 copyright Fun Company

1.  Riff:  is a repeated sequence of notes or chords that appears in a piece of music.  A riff is often catchy and helps give structure and character to a piece of music.  

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 2. Lick:  A lick is a stock pattern or phrase consisting of a short series of notes that is used in solos and melodic lines and accompaniment.  Licks are usually associated with single note melodic lines rather than chord progressions.   

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3. The main difference between a guitar lick and a guitar riff is how a melody or idea is used.  If the idea is a key part of the song, it's a guitar riff.  If it's a once-off idea that is part of a solo, it's a lick.  For example, the opening guitar you hear in the song "Smoke on the Water is a guitar riff and forms the main theme of the song.  Smoke on the Water also has many licks that are strung together to form the complete solo.

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4.  Many guitarists use the terms riff and lick interchangeably.    Very loose terms.

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One of 'rock and roll's first great wild child was born Sunday, September 29, 1935.  Jerry Lee Lewis was a very influential American singer and pianist who had the nickname "The Killer".  

Lewis was one of the Pioneer rockabilly, rock and roll musicians and made his first recordings in 1956 at "Sun Records" in Memphis.  "Crazy Arms" was recorded in 1956 and sold 300,000 copies.  "Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On" made Jerry Lee Lewis a worldwide recording artist.  "Great Balls of Fire", "Breathless" and "High School Confidential"  followed with great success.  

Lewis was born to a poor family in Ferriday, Concordia Parish, Louisiana.  He began playing piano after his parents mortgaged their farm in order to purchase a piano.  He shared it with his cousins Mickey Gilley (country singer), and Jimmy Swaggart (evangelist).  He was influenced by an older piano playing cousin Carl McVoy.

His mother sent Lewis to "Southwest Bible Institute" in Waxahachie, Texas.  She wanted him to sing and play evangelical songs exclusively.  Fortunately or unfortunately Lewis dared to play a traditional hymn in a boogie-woogie style.  The dean of the school called Lewis into his office and expelled him.  He then returned home and started playing in clubs.  He traveled to Nashville, Tennessee and recorded at Sun Records starting his career.

Lewis would pound the keys with his heel, played standing up, rake his hands up and down the keyboard , sat on the keyboard and even stood on top of the instrument.  When he kicked his piano bench over the very first time it was an accident.  When the audience loved it, he included it as part of his act.  He demonstrated all of the antics on the "Steve Allen show " in 1957 with "Whole Lotta Shakin" Goin On".  

While on a 1958 British tour, the press learned about his third wife, Myra Gale Brown who was his first cousin once removed.  Lewis was 22 years old and his new wife was 13 years old.  The publicity made his career take a severe down turn and the tour was cancelled after only three concerts.  He was eventually married 7 times.

A dozen gold records were earned in "country" and "rock and roll."  Lewis won a "Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award" and two "Grammy Hall of Fame Awards."  He received a dozen gold records and was inducted into the "Rock and Roll Hall of Fame" in 1986 and recognized by the "Rockabilly Hall of Fame".  Lewis is the last living member of the "Sun Records Million Dollar Quartet."

Lewis continued through the decades to perform and record.  He was slowed down by a stroke February 28, 2019.  

Passed 2022.

The man known as Little Richard, was born in Macon, Georgia in 1932 and was an influential figure as an American musician, singer, and songwriter.  He was the third of 12 children and because of his small thin little stature, was nicknamed "Lil Richard".  He was born with a slight deformity as one leg was shorter than the other.  Richard was made fun of because the shorter leg gave him an unusual walk.

 He started singing in church at an early age and was gifted with a loud singing voice.  He was once asked to not sing because of all his screaming and hollering.  His family was very religious with his father a deacon in the church.  Richard was inspired to become a preacher.  He attended Hudson High School and was a below average student.  He played saxophone in the school's marching band.  He sold Coca-Cola to crowds at the City Auditorium while seeing concerts of performers such as Cab Calloway and Sister Rosetta Tharpe.

Sister Rosetta Tharpe heard L'l Richard singing before her concert and asked him to open for her.  She inspired him to be a performer.  After 9th grade, Richard left to begin touring and performing in Vaudeville acts in and out of drag.  He was influenced by Billy Wright and Roy Brown's flashy style clothes, pancake make up, a pompadour hairdo as well as a pencil mustache.

Richard eventually recorded for RCA records but did not meet with great success.  He returned to Macon where he was struggling with poverty and took a job as a dishwasher for Greyhound Bus Lines.  Richard recorded at "J&M Studios" and after three takes, 1955 "tutti Frutti" was released.  It was an instant hit while being one of the first hits crossing over in the charts in the USA and the UK.  He had a rapid succession of 16 hits in rapid succession bringing integration between White Americans and African Americans in his audiences.  In 1961, Richard left his musical career to pursue a calling to preach Christianity for 5 years.  He was persuaded to tour Europe and the Beatles opened for Richard.  Richard shared his performance advise and taught Paul McCartney his distinctive vocalizations.

Little Richard had several nicknames, "The innovator, The Originator, and The Architect of Rock and Roll," while he offered frantic piano playing, raspy shouted vocals, showmanship and dynamic music that helped laid the foundation for rock and roll. Many of his contemporaries recorded covers of Richard's music.  Buddy Holly, Bill Haley, Jerry Lee Lewis, the Everly Brothers and Elvis Presley made covers to name a few.  After covering four of Richard's songs on his 1956 albums, Elvis said in 1969 that his music was an inspiration to him and that he was "The Greatest."

Richard has many honors and was inducted into the "Rock and Roll Hall of Fame" as part of the first group awarded in 1986.  He was inducted into the "Songwriters hall of Fame".  Also, the Award from the "National Museum of African American Music" for his role in narrowing the racial divide.  "Tutti Frutti" was included in the "National Recording Registry of the Library of Congress" in 2010 for "unique vocalizing over the irresistible beat announcing a new era in music".

Richard's creative unique vocalizations and up-tempo music influenced the formation of popular music genres.  That included soul and funk, numerous singers across musical genres from rock onwards and helped form future rhythm and blues.

Little Richard passed on May 9th, 2020 at age 87 at his home in Tullahoma, Tennessee, after a two month illness related to bone cancer.  His brother, sister and son were at his side.

Ellas Otha Bates was born December 30th 1928 in McComb, Mississippi.  Bates was adopted and raised by his mother's cousin who's last name was Mc Daniel.  In 1934, he took on her last name and became Ellas McDaniel.  He attended a Baptist Church where he studied the trombone and the violin.   In the 40's he was working as a mechanic and carpenter and played music on the street corners with friends for supplemental income.  He finally recorded at Chess Studios a successful number one hit record released in March 1955 on the "A" side "Bo Diddley".

The "Bo Diddley" name was from a school classmates nickname and he began using it.  Bo Diddley influenced many artists, including Buddy Holly, Elvis Presley, the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, the Animals.  He was a singer, guitarist, songwriter and music producer who played a big role in the change from Blues to rock and roll.  He wrote many songs for himself and for other artists.  

His signature beat and African rhythms is a cornerstone of hip hop, rock, and pop music.  Bo Diddley was inducted into the "Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1987, the "Blues Hall of Fame" in 2003 and the Rhythm and Blues Music Hall of Fame in 2017.  He achieved the "Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award".  He is well known for his unique rectangular guitar with a distinctive sound.  

Bo Diddley died on June 2, 2008, of heart failure at his home in Archer, Florida at the age of 79. 

I used to get mad about people recording my things; now I got a new thing going ... I don't get mad about them recording my material because they keep me alive."

Bo Diddley, 1969 Pop Chronicles interview

On February 26th, 1928 Antoine Dominique was born in New Orleans, Louisiana.  He was the youngest of eight children of French Creole background and his first language was Louisiana Creole.  His father was a part time violinist and also worked at a racetrack.  He learned to play the piano from a brother-in-law about 1838.  Fats attended Howard University, but had to leave and started to work as an ice delivery man's assistant.  He married, had eight children and lived in his old working class neighborhood until after Hurricane Katrina. Before Katrina he was a familiar sight around the neighborhood in his pink Cadillac automobile.

His nickname was Fats Domino Jr. and a rhythm and blues pianist, singer, songwriter.  Fats is considered one of the pioneers of rock and roll music.  He sold more that 65 million records and between 1955 and 1960 he had eleven Top 10 hits.  His shyness, honesty, humility contributed to his often being overlooked.

. "The Fat Man" is generally regarded as the first million-selling rock and roll record.  His most famous songs were "Ain't That a Shame" and "Blueberry Hill". Unfortunately, his original material was reportedly destroyed in the 2008 Universal fire according to the "The New York Times Magazine" published 2019.

In 1986, Domino was inducted into the "Rock and Roll Hall of Fame"  and received the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 1987.  He was a regular at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival and other local events.

Fats Domino died on October 24, 2017 at his home in Harvey, Louisiana at the age of 89 from natural causes.

Quiz

1.  The "Bo Diddley" name was from a school classmates nickname and he began using it.  True or False

2.  His family's situation of being poor gave him an appreciation of poor and working class and inspired many of his songs. Who was this man with only initials for his first name?  

3. Who was the The Architect of Rock and Roll? 

4. With the invention of Thomas Edison’s ___________________________ in 1877, consumers were beginning to enter a sound revolution.

5. What is a riff_________________________ 

6. Who coined a term on his radio show “Rock and Roll” in 1952?___________________________

7.  Who had the hit record "In Dreams"?   _________________________________

8.  Who actually wanted to record "Ida Red"?___________________________________________

9.  Who was sent to "Southwest Bible Institute" in Waxahachie, Texas by his mother? _________________________

10.  Who wrote "When Will I Be Loved"? _______________________________

Quiz Answers

1.  The "Bo Diddley" name was from a school classmates nickname and he began using it.  True or False

2.  His family's situation of being poor gave him an appreciation of poor and working class and inspired many of his songs. Who was this man with only initials for his first name?  Johnny Cash

3. Who was the The Architect of Rock and Roll? Little Richard

4. With the invention of Thomas Edison’s ___________________________Phonograph cylinders in 1877, consumers were beginning to enter a sound revolution.

5. What is a riff_________________________ is a repeated sequence of notes or chords that appears in a piece of music.  A riff is often catchy and helps give structure and character to a piece of music. 

6. Who coined a term on his radio show “Rock and Roll” in 1952?___________________________DJ Alan Freed

7.  Who had the hit record "In Dreams"?   _________________________________Roy Orbison

8.  Who actually wanted to record "Ida Red"?___________________________________________Chuck Berry

9.  Who was sent to "Southwest Bible Institute" in Waxahachie, Texas by his mother? _________________________Jerry Lee Lewis

10.  Who wrote "When Will I Be Loved"? _______________________________Everly Brothers

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