The very first time we performed with Chuck Berry, we were excited, we were nervous and we really didn’t know “rock and roll.”

Sure, we were professional musicians ages 17 to 22, but what did we really know? I could play my guitar. The drummer could beat on the drums in perfect rhythm. Even the keyboards were being pounded out with the correct chords and notes, but what did we really know about performing with the guy who invented this style of music? What did we know about the “feel?”

I’ll never forget the first time; you see, Chuck Berry HATES to rehearse. He figures if you can play guitar, you know all of his songs, and he’s right…but we were on a Dick Clark show.Dick wants to hear every note before the gates open. Clark walked up to us and said, “Guys, Chuck is in a good mood and he said he would rehearse, so let’s take advantage of this and give it a go.”

Chuck walked up to us, and a million thoughts started going through my mind. The father of rock and roll, a one-man crusader who fought every religious group, scared every parent of a teenager in the late ‘50’s, and at one point had about half the world hating him and the other half buying his records. Chuck Berry carried the crucifix for all other rock and roll artists after him. His music and vocals inspired The Beatles, The Beach Boys and The Rolling Stones. Elvis recorded his songs and Eric Clapton borrowed his tasty, full toned guitar licks, and I was about to shake his hand…momma mia!

He walked up. Dick Clark did the introductions, and, as Dick walked way, Chuck said something like, “OK, Dick wants me to talk to you guys, so let’s pretend we are talking about the show.”

We all looked at each other, like we were getting away with something at school. After a few minutes of Chuck being very charming, and no music coming out of our amps, Clark was right back in front of us.“

What’s going on? Why aren’t you playing?” Clark asked.“

Hell Dick, they know the songs…It’s Chuck Berry music,” Berry answered.

I could see we were going to upset the boss if we didn’t play something. Chuck saw that too. So after Clark and Berry hemmed and hawed for a few minutes, Berry looked at us and said, “OK boys, let’s play.”

The lesson begins. He started playing “Johnny B. Goode.” He never told us the key. I figured it was in the key of “A” and we all caught it after the first few notes. We started playing.  I was rocking and kind of showing Chuck I could play (over playing), the drummer was banging away (playing too much), and the bassist was walking up and down the scale. The keyboard player was rocking his little heart out. We thought we were playing great when all of a sudden Berry turned around and looked at us as if we killed his dog. “Stop! Stop!” he yelled.

"Fellas, what the hell is going on? This is rock and roll, not every man for himself.” Berry scowled at us. “Drummer, I don’t want to hear another ‘tom-tom’ fill! Bass player, play the root, one note, change that note as the chords change, but stay with one note and play it with the drummer’s foot (kick drum).” He looked at me and said, “I am the guitar player here. You just play behind me…in volume, too. I’ll give you all some leads, but play it the way it was written!”

Wow…I thought…We were just scolded by Chuck Berry…Cooool.I will admit, at the time I thought we knew rock and roll. Although Chuck Berry invented it, we thought we knew how to play it better. So, just to prove my point, we all played it exactly the way he wanted it. We were sure it would suck. We’ll show him. (Ahhh, to be young and stupid again.)

I will admit again, it sounded 1,000% better. We weren’t all stepping on each other like we always did. We could hear each other and, most importantly, you could feel it, and it felt awesome. For the first time I was playing rock and roll, the way it was meant to be played. A smile came over Berry’s face. He looked at all of us as if to say; “Good doggie,” and after two more songs he said, “You got it.”

Before he walked off, he gave us a few more pointers. “I don’t yell out the keys of the songs; I start ‘em where my finger hit. Don’t look like your looking for the key.Smile and just find it and ease in. I don’t care if you don’t find it until the last note.”

Then he turned to the drummer, “Stay heavy on the kick and snare, and don’t play them like you’re hitting eggs.Beat ‘em hard, like you’re playing drums. You are the backbone for this whole band.”

Then, to Dick Clark’s dismay, Chuck smiled, shook our hands again and walked off the stage. Clark noticed the quiet stage. He looked at Chuck who would not let Dick catch his eye. Dick looked at me. I shrugged my shoulders and Clark shot a smile back at me, shaking his head as if to say, “Oh well, at least we got him to rehearse a few tunes.”