May 21
MAYBELLENE DAY
No, this day has nothing to do with face make-up -- but it does have to do with the make-up of the pop music charts of mid-1950s. With the dawn of rock and roll upon us, Chuck Berry started his climb to stardom.
Berry, born in San Jose, California but raised in St. Louis, Missouri, was introduced to record executive Leonard Chess (of Chess Records in Chicago) by bluesman Muddy Waters. Berry, who had learned to play the guitar in St. Louis, and had led a trio there, played his demo tape for Chess. One of the songs on the tape was a country song performed in rhythm and blues style. It was titled, Ida Red.
On this day in 1955, Berry went into a recording session for Chess, performing a restyled version of Ida Red. What came out of that hot session was Ida Red’s new name and Chuck Berry’s first hit, Maybellene. Maybellene topped the R & B charts at #1, and the pop charts at #5.
And Beethoven rolled over...
Those Were the Days, the Today in History service from 440 International
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