Chuck Berry
CHUCK BERRY: THE ORIGINAL KING OF ROCK ‘N’ ROLL is the first-ever feature length documentary devoted to the life of singer/songwriter/guitarist widely considered the “Granddaddy of Rock and Roll” (1927 – 2017), known for hits like “Maybelline,” “Rock and Roll Music,” “Johnny B. Goode” and many others. Award-winning filmmaker Jon Brewer (BB KING: THE LIFE OF RILEY; NAT KING COLE: AFRAID OF THE DARK) melds archival performance footage and ruminations on Berry’s influence from other music greats (Keith Richards, Nils Lofgren, Steve Van Zandt, Joe Perry, and Alice Cooper among them) with an exploration of the legendary guitarist’s personal life (including the first-ever interview with Themetta “Toddy” Suggs, his wife of 68 years) and experience as a Black artist traversing the American racial landscape of the 1950s onward. The film is now available on VOD platforms and on Blu-ray on November 27.
“He was the most important guitarist in rock history.” – George Thorogood
Chuck Berry was an undisputed and stunning combination of talent and charisma and despite his iconic status, and reverence for his talent by rock’s heroes John Lennon, Bruce Springsteen, Keith Richards, Steve Van Zandt, Joe Perry, Alice Cooper (all featured in the film), Chuck was a family man who managed to cross the racial divide in 1950’s America with the power of a well-crafted song and a fender guitar. CHUCK BERRY features the first interview with Themetta “Toddy” Suggs, the late guitarist’s wife of 68 years.
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Despite his iconic status, and reverence for his talent by rock’s heroes John Lennon, Bruce Springsteen, Keith Richards, Steve Van Zandt, Joe Perry, Alice Cooper, all featured, Chuck Berry was at heart, a family man. He was a prolific craftsman of words and chords; an undisputed and stunning combination of talent and charisma.
John Lennon famously said, “If you tried to give rock and roll another name, you might call it ‘Chuck Berry.’” The first-ever Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee crossed the mid-’50s racial divide armed with nothing more than his guitar, business savvy and well-crafted songs such as “Maybellene,” “Roll Over Beethoven,” “Little Queenie,” “Rock and Roll Music” and “Johnny B. Goode.”
Award-winning filmmaker Jon Brewer (BB KING: THE LIFE OF RILEY; NAT KING COLE: AFRAID OF THE DARK) melds archival performance footage and ruminations on Berry’s influence from other music greats (Keith Richards, Nils Lofgren, Steve Van Zandt, Joe Perry, and Alice Cooper among them) with an exploration of the legendary guitarist’s personal life (including the first-ever interview with Themetta “Toddy” Suggs, his wife of 68 years) and experience as a Black artist traversing the American racial landscape of the 1950s onward.
CHUCK BERRY (98 Minutes) Directed by Jon Brewer. Appearances by Steven Van Zandt, George Thorogood, Joe Bonamassa, Gene Simmons, Alice Cooper, Joe Perry, and Charles Berry Jr. Released by MVD Entertainment Group (US) and Cardinal Releasing (UK).
CHUCK BERRY is available on Amazon, Availtin, Cool Nerd Kiosk, Direct TV, Dish, Doc N Roll, Fandango, Google Play, inDemand, iTunes, Sling TV, Tubi, Vimeo, Vudu, Xbox and on DVD and will release on Blu-ray on November 27th, 2020.
I consider Fats Domino (Ain’t It Ashame) and Chuck Berry (Maybelline), both kings of rock & roll with backup seconds to the kings…Little Richard and Elvis Presley. The magnificent others kept rock & roll rolling for years; Clyde McPhatter, Sam Cooke, Jackie Wilson, Huey “Piano” Smith, Frankie Lymon, The Platters, Dion & Belmonts, The Crests, The Flamingoes, The Dubs, The Heartbeats, The Crests, The Mystics, and too many others to name.
Pat Boone has never and will never be considered to be in the same league as the originals…he was, in fact, a cardboard copy of the originals, another words, a fake!…thanks to pay-o-la….how well I remember those days.