Just some thoughts:
I’ll sit and listen to them by myself,
Today’s music ain’t got the same soul,
I love that old time rock-‘n’-roll.”
Jerry Lee Lewis once called him the “Hank Williams of rock-n- roll.” He was referring to Chuck Berry, and his song writing and performing talents. Over the years, I have seen Chuck Berry numerous times; even once saw him in prison. Now, that’s a story for another time.
A couple weeks ago, I was on the golf course when my cell phone rang. Normally, when I’m on the golf course, I will let it ring, but I looked at it and thought, “Better take this call." I thought I knew who it was as the area code was for St. Louis. I answered, “Larry, I got two tickets for this coming Wednesday night. You always told me if I ever got tickets to immediately call you.” My instructions to my friend, who was living in St. Louis, had always been, “If you can ever get tickets to the small club where Chuck Berry still plays a couple times a month, get them, call me and I’ll be there.”
The next Wednesday saw my friend and I and a bunch of other folks packed like sardines in the basement of a small club in the heart of St. Louis. We were there to see 86-year-old Chuck Berry do his thing. And do his thing he did! Now he is not the Chuck Berry of our 1950s’ days, his son and daughter help him with various things while he is on stage. At times, the lyrics seem to fade a bit, but he is still Chuck Berry, and, even still, does an abbreviated duck walk. But he is still Chuck Berry.
I have told my oldest grandson, “When I’m old and you all have to put me in the Home and I’m just sittin’ on the porch, get a convertible, load me up, of course, the top must be down, and take me for a spin. Put on some of that good ole rock-n-roll music, like Elvis, Little Richard, Fats, Ricky, Dion, Jerry Lee and of course, Chuck. If you don’t get a rise out of me, take me back to the Home and tell them, He’s done.”
say I’m old fashion, say I’m over the hill
today’s music ain’t got the same soul
I love that old time rock-‘n’- roll.”
“I reminisce about the days of old.”
June 25, 2011
Keep on,
Larry Adamson