Tuesday, November 18, 2003
Roll over Beethoven.
Every so often, throughout history, a single individual can change the course of a culture. A single thought can bring down a mountain of ideals. Columbus sailed off the edge of the world and, overnight, the world changed. Galileo saw the stars, and knew they were not the heavens. Da Vinci was the man behind changes in many forms, changes which embodied the Renaissance.
In the late 18th century, a composer by the name of Ludwig van Beethoven from Salzburg, Austria, began to play the harpsichord. He played it in a manner never heard before, and the instrument didn’t hold up. Strings broke and the wood shook from the intense emotion pounded on its keys. Not satisfied with the outcome, he didn’t give up or change his music to accommodate the playing requirements of the harpsichord; he invented the piano. Overnight, the Classical period for music ended, and the Romantic period began. Not since Johan Sebastian Bach had someone come along and shaken the music scene so much. Not since Bach, no single individual came along and changed the path of music. Beethoven single-handedly changed its direction.
In 1941, Sumner High School in St. Louis had its annual musical stage performance, where one young man elected to sing a questionable tune, a blues song perfectly called, “Confessin’ the Blues.” In those days, the blues were gaining popularity, but they weren’t considered appropriate for events such as this. This young man, however, in a move that would reflect his behavior the rest of his life, shunned the norms and performed to the audience. The song was received with such approval that the young man decided to learn the guitar.
And that was the day Ludwig should have rolled over and nudged Peter to tell him the news. Music would never be the same.
Some twenty years or so later, a band called the Beatles was formed, containing among them some of the greatest musicians of the 20th century. Paul McCartney, John Lennon, and George Harrison (sorry Ringo) led the charge of Rock n Roll, influencing artists all the way down through the various forms of R&B – rap to heavy metal to hard rock to soft rock. On their coattails were Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Brian Wilson, Jimmy Page, and Pete Townshend.
Each of them had an irreverent respect for the riffs of rock n roll and the lyrics that accompanied them. They had an inescapable influence on the face of music in the latter half of the century of sin, and their influence continues. It trickles down to the great rock bands of today, and I suspect will trickle down beyond my time, at least until another musical revolutionary comes along. And their commonality? All of them were influenced in some way or other to one man.
*****
All of this was going through my head as I stood in awe 25 feet away from a 77 year old Chuck Berry strumming his guitar. It was in a venue called The Duck Room, most likely named after The Duck Dance, which was created by one and the same man, Chuck Berry. The Duck Room is in the basement of Blueberry Hill, a St. Louis landmark located on The Loop.
You may recall Nelly being proud of his home in Country Grammar. The reason? Rock n Roll music was born there. Just like Nelly, I too am proud. Yet that pride can be hidden. I am a St. Louisan, through and through, and in many ways I am no different from my fellow city dwellers. St. Louisans often times possess a sort of shame at their city when telling others where they are from. We have terrible racial problems, we have high crime, and most notably a guilt handed down for generations, of allowing a once proud city to deteriorate from the 3rd largest city in the country to the 28th. In general, most of the city’s shame comes from being a second tier city when once we were among the top.
However, we have countless things of which to be proud, and at the top of that is Chuck Berry. He said it true and clear when he said “Roll over Beethoven, and tell Tchaikowsky the news.” Chuck Berry changed the face of music, and it all started right here in St. Louis.
Now that Chuck has retired, he’s no longer touring. He relaxes at home in his hometown, but he can’t give up his first love. And I’m not talking about 14 year old girls. Once every month he performs at the Duck Room to a sellout crowd. The Duck Room isn’t large, holding maybe 500 people, but it’s wonderful.
Last Wednesday night I was there. I put off seeing him for so long. I’ve lived in this town off and on for about 20 years, and like many of my friends, I always said I’d see him eventually. Now I’m amazed it took me so long, and I’m rejoicing in my luck. This is not just a musician. He’s no Radiohead or Jack White. He goes way way beyond that. The man is a historical icon, and we have the chance to see him once a month! The man is 77 years old. He won't play forever. And to let that chance slip away? Well, that's just inexcusable if you love music.
So when you go, give me a call. I’ll be there next to you, ready to tell the news.
Every so often, throughout history, a single individual can change the course of a culture. A single thought can bring down a mountain of ideals. Columbus sailed off the edge of the world and, overnight, the world changed. Galileo saw the stars, and knew they were not the heavens. Da Vinci was the man behind changes in many forms, changes which embodied the Renaissance.
In the late 18th century, a composer by the name of Ludwig van Beethoven from Salzburg, Austria, began to play the harpsichord. He played it in a manner never heard before, and the instrument didn’t hold up. Strings broke and the wood shook from the intense emotion pounded on its keys. Not satisfied with the outcome, he didn’t give up or change his music to accommodate the playing requirements of the harpsichord; he invented the piano. Overnight, the Classical period for music ended, and the Romantic period began. Not since Johan Sebastian Bach had someone come along and shaken the music scene so much. Not since Bach, no single individual came along and changed the path of music. Beethoven single-handedly changed its direction.
In 1941, Sumner High School in St. Louis had its annual musical stage performance, where one young man elected to sing a questionable tune, a blues song perfectly called, “Confessin’ the Blues.” In those days, the blues were gaining popularity, but they weren’t considered appropriate for events such as this. This young man, however, in a move that would reflect his behavior the rest of his life, shunned the norms and performed to the audience. The song was received with such approval that the young man decided to learn the guitar.
And that was the day Ludwig should have rolled over and nudged Peter to tell him the news. Music would never be the same.
Some twenty years or so later, a band called the Beatles was formed, containing among them some of the greatest musicians of the 20th century. Paul McCartney, John Lennon, and George Harrison (sorry Ringo) led the charge of Rock n Roll, influencing artists all the way down through the various forms of R&B – rap to heavy metal to hard rock to soft rock. On their coattails were Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Brian Wilson, Jimmy Page, and Pete Townshend.
Each of them had an irreverent respect for the riffs of rock n roll and the lyrics that accompanied them. They had an inescapable influence on the face of music in the latter half of the century of sin, and their influence continues. It trickles down to the great rock bands of today, and I suspect will trickle down beyond my time, at least until another musical revolutionary comes along. And their commonality? All of them were influenced in some way or other to one man.
*****
All of this was going through my head as I stood in awe 25 feet away from a 77 year old Chuck Berry strumming his guitar. It was in a venue called The Duck Room, most likely named after The Duck Dance, which was created by one and the same man, Chuck Berry. The Duck Room is in the basement of Blueberry Hill, a St. Louis landmark located on The Loop.
You may recall Nelly being proud of his home in Country Grammar. The reason? Rock n Roll music was born there. Just like Nelly, I too am proud. Yet that pride can be hidden. I am a St. Louisan, through and through, and in many ways I am no different from my fellow city dwellers. St. Louisans often times possess a sort of shame at their city when telling others where they are from. We have terrible racial problems, we have high crime, and most notably a guilt handed down for generations, of allowing a once proud city to deteriorate from the 3rd largest city in the country to the 28th. In general, most of the city’s shame comes from being a second tier city when once we were among the top.
However, we have countless things of which to be proud, and at the top of that is Chuck Berry. He said it true and clear when he said “Roll over Beethoven, and tell Tchaikowsky the news.” Chuck Berry changed the face of music, and it all started right here in St. Louis.
Now that Chuck has retired, he’s no longer touring. He relaxes at home in his hometown, but he can’t give up his first love. And I’m not talking about 14 year old girls. Once every month he performs at the Duck Room to a sellout crowd. The Duck Room isn’t large, holding maybe 500 people, but it’s wonderful.
Last Wednesday night I was there. I put off seeing him for so long. I’ve lived in this town off and on for about 20 years, and like many of my friends, I always said I’d see him eventually. Now I’m amazed it took me so long, and I’m rejoicing in my luck. This is not just a musician. He’s no Radiohead or Jack White. He goes way way beyond that. The man is a historical icon, and we have the chance to see him once a month! The man is 77 years old. He won't play forever. And to let that chance slip away? Well, that's just inexcusable if you love music.
So when you go, give me a call. I’ll be there next to you, ready to tell the news.
