“YOU NEVER CAN TELL”

by Desmond Kelly the “Star of eLanka”

In life, you never can tell, what happens. CHARLES EDWARD ANDERSON BERRY (known Worldwide as the famous CHUCK BERRY), has just hung-up his guitar & passed on to the greatest rock n roll stage in the sky.

He was born on the 18th of October, 1926, in St.Louis, Missouri, started singing, which came naturally to him, at School & at Church in his pre-teens, showed his rebelliousness also very early in life, when he was.sent to prison to serve 3 years for armed robbery, & it was probably here that he learned to become a reckless individual, as tough as they come, stubborn & with a noticible “don’t give a damn” attitude towards life in general.

It was now 1950, Among other “things” he was involved in, at the time, Chuck joined a local band, saw, and was suitably impressed with the “guitarist” who was also a good friend, and decided that he would learn to play the instrument, which he mastered to play “his way”. The “Big-Bands”, Crooners, Instrumentalists male & female, of all shapes & sizes, were slowly but steadily giving way to what was to become the “Rock n Roll” Era.

Chuck Berry now began writing his own songs, backing himself on his ever-present “guitar”with the rest of “his boys”, in the band, introducing up-beat songs with his own particular 4 bar “Introduction” & inimitable “guitar-licks” that were to become World-famous in the future. He also had his own style of strutting the stage. He did this with a nonchalance & confidence that was impossible to match, anywhere, thereby becoming the Founding-Father of Rock n Roll and, in addition, an “Artiste” who no-one wanted to “follow” on-stage. He was very very good at what he did.

Chuck Berry had what was loosely termed “a big hit” in 1958. The song, which he composed, strangely resembled himself as a young man. He was finding it extremely hard to be “good” himself, so he titled this ditty, amusingly, “JOHNNY B.GOODE”. His other “big hit”, around the time was “MAYBELLENE”, probably written for a member of the opposite sex who knew better than to mix with “The Shakespeare of Rock n Roll, as he was also known”, so off he.goes & writes another 1st Hit of 1972, entitled “MY DING-A-LING”, obviously to prove what Maybellene was missing.out, on. Chuck Berry was a “cynch” who knew not how to “flinch”. He was indeed a “Man’s Man” and even though there was “not much of him”, much larger Stars never wanted to get in his way. One such example was when another big rock n roll Star came up on stage one night when Chuck was performing and simply wanted to say “hello”, he tapped Chuck on his shoulder, from behind, wishing to surprise “strutty-Chucky”, only to receive a solid punch in the face that knocked the unfortunate “Rolling Stone”(I think) , to the floor. Chuck apologized, of course but the lesson learned, was, you never try to surprise Chuck Berry as he does his thing.

Another “mistake” was made, by the “group” known as “The Beach Boys”. They recorded what was an original composition titled “Surfin”. Unfortunately, the tune was very much akin to “Sweet little Sixteen”, another Chuck Berry song(misdemeanour), no doubt, and Chuck demanded “co-writer status” on that song and got it, saving the Beach Boys a lawsuit. “The Rolling Stones” 1st Single in 1963 was another Chuck Berry Original, “Come On”.

Still another rock n roll “great”, of the time, John Lennon.of the Beatles once quoted. “If you try to give rock n roll another name, you might call it Chuck Berry”. In my own opinion, as always, The Founding-Father of rock n roll was CHUCK BERRY, The King of rock n roll was ELVIS PRESLEY, (Both are now gone, R.I.P. guys).

The Grand-Father of rock n roll is still.alive & kicking.

His nane is JERRY LEE LEWIS. These people were, and are the true Rock n Roll Legends.

The wife of Chuck Berry, Themitta “Toddy” Sugs, married to him for 68 years, gave him the inspiration to become the “icon” he was, and CHUCK BERRY was discovered “dead” at his home in Wentzville, Mo., Missouri, 45 miles West of St.Louis,(@90 yrs. of age).

“You Never Can Tell” (Ces’t la vie/that’s life), has always been one of my favourite CHUCK BERR songs.

I have recorded it as a tribute to Chuck and it is featured on my “Ultimate DVD” which is, at the moment publicised by Neil Jayasekera and e Lanka, the “Ultimate” Website for Lankans & Lankan/Aussies everywhere. I sincerely hope that Neil will be able to at very short notice, make it possible for our readers to listen to this song while viewing a photograph of the Icon of Rock n Roll. “You Never Can Tell” folks so please keep reading.

Desmond Kelly
“Star of e’Lanka”.