Music Diary – 18th October

Welcome to my Music Diary – today for the 18th October!

Chuck Berry

Happy birthday to Mr. Charles Edward Anderson „Chuck“ Berry, who was born on the 18th October 1926 in St. Louis, Missouri! Berry is one of the most important pioneers of Rock’n’Roll music and recorded classics like „Maybellene“ (1955), „Roll Over Beethoven“ (1956), „Rock and Roll Music“ (1957) and „Johnny B. Goode“ (1958),

Since his teens Chuck Berry was playing the Blues and in 1953 he was performing with Johnnie Johnson’s trio. And he developed his very own style – a fresh mixture of Country and Rhythm & Blues. In 1955 Berry travelled to Chicago where he met his idol Muddy Waters. On 21st May the first Chuck Berry Single was recorded for the legendary Chess Records label – an adaption of „Ida Red“ called „Maybellene„. And this was the big start of his carreer: Over one million copies were sold and the single went straight to No. 1 on the Billboard’s Rhythm and Blues charts. One year later „Roll Over Beethoven“ was released and from 1957 until 1959 more hits followed: Singles like „School Days,“ „Rock and Roll Music,“ „Sweet Little Sixteen“ and „Johnny B. Goode“ entered the top ten. Chuck Berry became a real superstar but his career was stopped in 1959: In December, Berry was arrested because of transporting a 14-year-old girl over state lines (Mann Act). Two trials happened and finaly Berry was served one and one half years in prison from February 1962 to October 1963. Before going into jail, Chuck Berry’s single „Come On“ hit the shops. In the meantime many British bands discovered Berry’s music and acts like The Beatles or The Rolling Stones recorded cover versions.

After beeing released from prison, Chuck Berry returned into the studio and recorded more classics like „No Particular Place to Go„, „You Never Can Tell“ and „Nadine„. And in 1964 he did a successful tour through the UK. Between 1966 and 1969 five albums were released. And on the LP „From St. Louie to Frisco“ (1968) the song „My Tambourine“ is featured, which became later with different lyrics the hit „“My Ding-a-Ling“ (1972). In the seventies, Chuck Berry toured a lot all around the world. Also in the eighties he performed tremendously – appr. 100 concerts per year. And his last studio album „Rock it“ came out in 1979. Until present Chuck Berry concentrates on concerts instead of recording new songs.

In 1986, the documentary „Hail! Hail! Rock ’n‘ Roll“ (directed by Taylor Hackford) was released, to celebrate Chuck’s sixtieth birthday. The event was organized by Keith Richards. The film features also the gues performances of Eric Clapton, Etta James, Julian Lennon, Robert Cray and Linda Ronstadt.

Get your Chuck Berry gear here (for Austrian customer):

 

Chuck Berry Shop (Germany/Europe):                   Chuck Berry Shop (USA):                              

Werbung

Music Diary – 13th October

Welcome to my Music Diary – today for the 13th October!

On the 13th October 1941 Mr. Paul Frederic Simon was born in Newark, New Jersey. In 1952 he met his future music partner Art Garfunkel for the first time. The duo performed in a procuction of „Alice in Wonderland“ and two years later, Simon (Guitar and Vocals) and Garfunkel (Vocals) began singing together. One of the first tunes they wrote and played together was „The Girl of me“ which became a hit in their close neighborhood. At the Library of Congress this historic piece of paper with all the chords and words is exhibited. In 1957 the duo performed under the moniker Tom & Jerry and their song „Hey, Schoolgirl“ was released by Big Records. The single crawled until to No. 49 on the pop charts.

In 1964 Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel performed as Simon & Garfunkel. Many singles charted all around the world like the classics „The Sound of Silence„, „Mrs. Robinson“ and „Bridge Over Troubled Water„. At the height popularity the duo split in 1970 and both started their successful solo careers. In 1981 Simon & Garfunkel reunited again for the famous „Concert in Central Park„, but parted again very soon after.

In 2003 they toured  together again under the banner „Old Friends“.

Paul Simon’s slef-titled second solo album went in 1972 on No. 4 in the US. „There Goes Rhymin‘ Simon“ reached one year later the second place in the charts and „Still Crazy After All These Years“ was the first No. 1 album position for Paul Simon as a solo artist. With „Graceland“ (1986) the American musician recorded a real milestone in pop history. The album won the „1987 Grammy Award“ for „Album of the Year“ and the title song received one year later the „1988 Grammy Award“ for „Record of the Year„.

All in all Paul Simon received 12 „Grammys“ for his work, including the Lifetime Achievement Award.

Get your Paul Simon gear here (for Austrian customer):

 Shop for Paul Simon (Europe):              Shop for Paul Simon (USA):              

Music Diary – 19th September

Welcome to my Music Diary – today for the 19th September!

On the 19th September 1981 the reunion concert of Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel took place at the Central Park in New York. It was a free benefit concert, where the legandary folk duo performed in front of appr. 500,000 people. The show was recorded and released in February 1982 as a double album and video titled „The Concert In Central Park“ by Geffen Records.

The complete show consisted of 21 songs, 19 were released on the album including classics like „The Sound of Silence„, „Mrs. Robinson„, „Bridge over troubled Water“ and „Scarborough Fair„.

The concert was a huge success and Simon & Garfunkel toured – more or less – around the world in 1982. After that Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel separated again and worked further on their solo careers.

Buy your copy here (Germany/Europe):          Buy your copy here (USA/Rest of the World):

                          

 Shop more Simon & Garfunkel items (CDs, Vinyls, Shirts, Merchandising etc.)(Europe):

Shop more Simon & Garfunkel items (CDs, Vinyls, Shirts, Merchandising etc.)(USA):