This Date In Rock History: 18 October

On this date in 1926, Charles Edward Anderson Berry was born in St. Louis, Missouri. Yep, the Blues had a baby and they named him Chuck Berry. And then told Tchiakovsky the news.

This Date In Rock History: 8 July

On this date in 1924, Johnnie Clyde Johnson was born in Fairmont, West Virginia. Arguably the most influential piano player in rock history, he would have been 86 today, had he not gone a-way.

Johnnie Johnson's move to St. Louis, Missouri in 1952 set into motion one of the most famous partnerships in popular music history. On New Year's Eve of that year, his jazz trio was playing a gig at the Cosmopolitan Club in East St. Louis. Johnson's saxophonist suffered a stroke. In a fix, Johnson called a musician that he knew had hardly any professional experience, thinking that individual would not be working on one of the biggest music nights of the year. He called, and the young man came to play.

His name? Chuck Berry. Adding vocals and showmanship to the group, Berry's version of Bob Wills' "Ida Red" got the attention of the Chess Brothers, who signed him as a solo act to their Chicago blues label. Johnson went with him and played piano on classic Berry track in his catalogue: "Maybelline," "Sweet Little Sixteen," "Carol," "School Days," "Roll Over Beethoven" and "Nadine" to name a few.

Johnnie Johnson and Chuck Berry toured and played together until 1973.

In 1987, Johnson was driving a bus in St. Louis. The film documentary of that year organized by The Rolling Stones' Keith Richards and directed by Taylor Hackford, Chuck Berry Hail! Hail! Rock 'n Roll, brought Johnson in from the cold and allowed him to start making music again. A number of solo records and sessions with other notable players were released throughout the 1990s.

In 2001, Johnnie Johnson was elected to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame after a long, concerted effort led by Richards and others. He died 13 April 2005.

Here's a great example of the blues and boogie-woogie piano style of Johnnie Johnson:

Danger Mouse Provides The Holiday BBQ Soundtrack

Here in the U.S., we're heading out the door for a long Independence Day Holiday weekend. Thoughts turn to backyards, apartment porches or parks, with mondo grills or tiny hibachis, along with coolers of one's favorite beverages. Now all you need is a soundtrack.

Producer extraordinaire Danger Mouse (aka Brian Burton of Gnarls Barkley and Broken Bells fame) has come up with a summer soundtrack of 147 (count 'em!) records for your listening pleasure. The fine Irish music site Nialler9 took things a step farther and looped the entire list onto YouTube.

So point your speakers out the window, click and turn it up. Happy 4th, everybody.

Oh, and here's our favorite Independence Day song to add to the list. In the immortal words of Mr. Chuck Berry, "Let It Rock!"

Newport Jazz Festival Lineup Announced

The lineup for this summer's Newport Jazz Festival was announced this morning. Wynton Marsalis, Jamie Callum, Jon Faddis, Randy Brecker, Chris Botti and Roy Haynes are among the noted artists filling the bill. But what has TNOP most excited is the treasure trove of keyboardists coming to the annual fest: Herbie Hancock, Chick Corea and personal favorite Ahmad Jamal. (Trivia: Chuck Berry cites Jamal by name in his "Go Go Go" - Backed up by the jazz band, layin' on the wood/Mixin' Ahmad Jamal in my Johnny B. Goode)

The Newport Jazz Festival takes place August 6, 7 & 8. Tickets go on sale Friday, March 26.

To whet your appetite, here's Jamal, accompanied by Idris Muhammad on drums and James Cammack on bass, performing "Poinciana" in 2005: