BITTERSWEET, Ky. — No matter who your favorite artist is, country or otherwise,

chances are they got some of their inspiration one way or another from the

great Chuck Berry. I was saddened to hear of his recent passing at the age of 90.

 

Berry brought a new kind of song to the forefront and the music world would never

be the same and will forever be in his debt. Like many of you, I was not yet alive when

this phenomenon began. But it didn’t take long to get acquainted with this legend and the music that still is as exciting as it was in the 1950s.

 

Berry’s music had many roots including rhythm and blues and country western, but he turned those individual sounds into something different and exuberant that appealed to the teen crowd of the 50s and would influence so many artists who came after

him.

 

In addition to his talented singing ability and his fantastic guitar playing, Berry was a great songwriter. His first big hit came by way of Maybellene, which has

often been called the first rock-n-roll song. Other hits would follow like Roll Over,

Beethoven, Johnny B. Goode and Sweet Little Sixteen, to name a few.

 

Berry torn down many barriers, including musicalbarriers. His music

appealed to mostly teenagers at first but would become loved by nearly everyone

that heard and saw him.

 

Perhaps most rewarding was the fact that as an African American performer beginning his career at a time when few African Americans were getting big time recording contracts, I would like to think that those who loved his music only saw a great performer

and not the color of his skin. He was a pioneer in many ways.

 

I honestly don’t know anyone who doesn’t know a Chuck Berry song and many of his songs has been covered by other great performers for years. He would be awarded nearly

every accolade available including the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’s first inductee and

the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. Many artists took to social media to pay tribute to Berry after his death but perhaps one of the greatest compliments for

him came years ago when another great musician, John Lennon said, “If you tried to give rock and roll another name you might call it Chuck Berry.”

 

Bluegrass Johnson comes from a long line of country music

performers and enjoys a passion for the rhythm and melody. From

the hills of Kentucky, he will offer his opinions on a variety of new

country music each week. Readers with questions or comments may

write to Johnson in care of this publication.