Page 31 - ARUBA TODAY

PEOPLE&ARTS Monday 20 March 2017
A31

Friend: Chuck Berry’s 1st album in decades is ‘sensational’

an artist dies, Berry’s up- fathers, his name is right he closed out its concert in
coming album featuring there,” Harris said. 1995 to celebrate the build-
mostly original songs was Berry drew praise all cor- ing’s opening in Cleveland.
announced in October. ners after his death includ- The Rolling Stones’ Keith
His last new studio album, ing a tweet from former Richards said at Berry’s in-
“Rock It,” was released in President Barack Obama. duction ceremony that
1979. “Chuck Berry rolled over Berry was the one who
The 90-year-old Berry died everyone who came be- started it all.Funeral ar-
Saturday at his home near fore him - and turned up rangements hadn’t been
St. Louis. Berry’s classic everyone who came after. announced Sunday. One
songs “Johnny B. Goode” We’ll miss you, Chuck. Be of Berry’s representatives,
and “Roll Over Beethoven” good,” Obama wrote. Matt Hanks, said he didn’t
echoed throughout The Berry was the first artist in have any new information
Rock & Roll Hall of Fame on the inaugural 1986 class to about the release plans for
Sunday as it paid tribute to go into the rock hall, and the “Chuck” album.q
the musician.
In this Nov. 13, 2007 file photo, legendary U.S. musician Chuck “Anybody who’s picked
Berry performs on stage at the Avo Session in Basel, Switzerland. up a guitar has been influ-
Associated Pres enced by him,” said rock
JOSH FUNK formed regularly, said the hall CEO Greg Harris, who
Associated Press tracks he has heard off the remembers playing the
Chuck Berry’s death came upcoming album, titled opening riff of “Johnny B.
just weeks before the de- “CHUCK,” are “sensation- Goode” over and over
but single off his first new al.” again as budding teen gui-
studio album in nearly four “What a genius,” Edwards tarist.
decades was scheduled to said Saturday. “I just miss In addition to Berry’s notes,
go on sale, a friend of the him like crazy. I miss his Harris said his lyrics spoke
rock ‘n’ roll legend said. laugh.” about teenage life and so-
Joe Edwards, the owner While studios often release cial issues in the 1950s.
of the Blueberry Hill club in tribute albums of classics “It’s why when we think of
St. Louis where Berry per- or unused material after the greats and the fore-