TBT: Chuck Berry’s Influence on Rock ‘n Roll – A Merit Tribute from 1997

As a Baby Boomer, I grew up at the quintessential time for rock ‘n roll music.  “Rock Around the Clock” emerged out of rhythm and blues the year I was born, and Chuck Berry opened the door for all the rock greats.  Bob Dylan called Chuck Berry “the Shakespeare of rock and roll.” Berry influenced virtually all of the music from the likes of the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, and the Beach Boys.  My girls say that I’m stuck in the ‘60s – and I’m proud of that.  So back in 1997 when Nicole was 12 and Jaclyn eight, I wrote a musical script that gave them (and the audience) a rock ‘n roll history lesson: “It’s Gotta Be Rock ‘n Roll Music: 1955-1964”

Merit students performed the #1 hits from 1955-1964.  Before each song, they gave short speeches about what was happening in the world that year and a little biography about the artist. They performed “Maybeline” and learned about how Chuck Berry set the stage as a singer, songwriter, arranger, and pianist. I still remember Kyle doing the Chuck Berry riff across the stage. 

Check out this article “Why Chuck Berry is Even Greater Than You Think” in Rolling Stone.