Chuck Berry still maintained a heavy tour schedule when I became old enough to sneak into nightclubs. What a disappointment! The first two times I caught him, the legend was clearly going through the motions.
Ever the glutton for punishment, I once found myself at Parody Hall to give the man another go. Berry's demeanor shifted from contempt to delight upon recognizing the expertise of the pickup band. That outing remains the only time I've seen Berry give a damn. Lou Whitney and his cohorts in the Skeletons/Morells were the men responsible for inspiring Berry.
I spent several nights dancing to Whitney's bands during the next few years. On the two or three occasions I spoke with him, he was funny and gracious. Whitney died this week. C.J. Janovy wrote a nice piece about the beloved Missourian.
(Original image by There Stands the Glass.)
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