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Beautiful song, timeless and as important today as when it was written – Thanks George and Chuck for all the memories and songs of hope.
Just saw the return of the great Walter Trout (7/10/15) who played his first U.S. show in 2 years following a near death experience in which he lost over 100 pounds and needed an organ transplant to save him from the grip of death. This Blues legend from Huntington Beach, CA. threw it down hard at the Coach House in San Juan Capistrano in front of a crowd that responded with numerous standing ovations. It was a family affair when he and his 20 year-old son, Jon traded licks in a great old school guitar-cutting contest which Walter ended with a scorching example of why he is regarded by Guitar Player magazine as one of the top 100 of all time! A great night of rockin blues!
Wow, what a great showcase of musicianship, the improvisation and quality of players is off the chart. I really enjoy the spectrum of music covered as well; jazz, funk, blues, soul, rock, and all with a Southern flavor. This gig is between The Allman Brothers Band demise and Chuck’s ascent into the Rolling Stones, it shows Chuck as bandleader and really shows off his chops as well as the rest of the band Thanks again Chuck for sharing this awesome gig with us and for your continuing influence and devotion to what we like to call, rock and roll music!
You know what is really mind blowing is of all those great rock and roll classics that Chuck Berry recorded for Chess Records he never had a #1 hit until 1972 with, “My Ding-A-Ling.” Very strange fact for the man who probably did more to bring black and white kids together than any other person in American history – a living icon who deserves the title of, “undisputed King of Rock and Roll!”
Looks like a great event – all you East Coasters should make plans to see this festival, some of us West Coasters might be interested as well. I will talk about this with Howard and see what’s shaking! Have a great gig Chuck and enjoy the upcoming shows with Stones!
Love the jam with Chuck Berry and company (Mean Old World, 1986)- the footage appears to be from the, “Hail, Hail, Rock and Roll” film from 1986, but I do not recall seeing this performance in the movie? Chuck was this from those sessions for the film? Or is it a jam session that just happened to take place around the same time? Either way, seeing you jam next to the great Johnnie Johnson is a rock and roll treat and it must have been a thrill for you as well! Thanks for sharing this great clip and others!
Otis Spann is probably the most over-looked figure in the birth of ‘Rock and Roll,” outside those people who know what’s, what. This clip represents the essential link from R&B to Rock and the electrification of the blues that took place in Chicago in the 1940’s and 50’s. The work Otis did for Chess Records, backing Muddy Waters and the other greats – the tracks he recorded on those records were critical and inspired a new generation to play the music. Otis Spann and his peers represent the genesis of what would become Rock and Roll. What a great clip – thanks!
“Danger, Will Robinson, Danger!” I have seen so much footage over the years that it is rare that I am floored by what I see, but the Billy Preston with Nat King Cole clip, he is 10 or 11 and is already out of control. It is obvious to Nat and the rest of us that this guy was born with it! So relaxed, great pitch in his voice, timing, tempo and so much soul, but it is the funkiness of his groove that slays me!
We have been hitting it pretty good, but I am shocked that no one has mentioned the ‘ladies’ in our discussion of the greatest keyboard players of all time. So I will throw out, Aretha Franklin and Lady Gaga! Watch any Aretha conert footage from the late 60’s and 70’s and you will see that she not only unmatched as a vocalist, but plays awesome piano and everything from gospel, R&B and rock. Lady Gaga is too much, I saw her live at Yoko Ono’s 80th birthday party tour – the venue was small (The Orpheum Theater) and Gaga, played several Yoko Ono songs and played beautiful piano. Numerous Guests appeared, John Lennon’s son, Sean was bandleader and the band an eclectic mix of top notch players was only surpassed by Gaga who closed the show singing and playing to Yoko who was seated on top of the piano taking it all in!
You have indeed mentioned some of the biggies here, but no mention of Johnnie Johnson or the Johnnie Johnson Trio? Listen to any Chuck Berry song and say thank you to Johnnie Johnson, his right and left hands created the rythms that Chuck parlayed into the creation of what we call today, rock and roll! Also, check out Commander Cody and his band, The Lost Planet Airmen. His song, ‘Beat me Daddy Eight to the Bar,’ is boogie heaven and his classic, ‘Hot Rod Lincoln,’ although it does not highlight his chops, marks the Commander and his band amongst the best Honky Tonk bands in America. I saw the band in the late eighties at the legendary, Palamino Club in Los Angeles and it was a night of nights! Check him out!
I too have seen Ray Charles; twice, once up close and shook his hand before he went on stage. I was sitting right next to his piano stool in a crowd of about 300 people, pure heaven. And by the way, Professor Longhair is worth a listen, especially to anybody who has not heard him. I want to suggest everybody check-out, the late, great,Billy Powell on Lynyrd Skynyrd’s,’Street Survivors’ album, “Honky Tonk Night Time Man,” is boogie heaven. Then you have to check out his work on “Free Bird,” Live BBC 1975. This guy could do it all!