Hail, Hail Rock n' Roll

The statue of St. Louisan Chuck Berry along the Delmar Loop. He doesn't care how cold it is. He keeps rockin' day and night, every day of the year. Note how carefully made the work is, with all the weight perfectly balanced on one forefoot.

The statue is across the street from the locally renowned Blueberry Hill. It is a restaurant, bar and music venue. Downstairs there is a performance space named the Duck Room, named after Berry's signature walk. He played there a lot. I am casually acquainted with the sculptor, Harry Webber, who got me into the place after the dedication of the statue. That's when I got this picture.       

Leave Something In The Tip Jar

Imagine Chuck Berry as a street musician, trying to hustle a few bucks on a busy sidewalk and being ignored by all the passers-by. We've seen something like this in most cities. Have you ever passed by a talented street performer, someone who really got your attention, and not left a thank you? I remember the achingly beautiful music of a young violinist in the passages above the Grand Central subway station in New York and just striding down to the platform.

Once again, in The Loop section of Delmar Boulevard in University City. I never before noticed that the whole weight of the statue rests only on the right forefoot.    

Frozen Chuck

I don't remember the exact temperature but it was really cold (for us) when I visited the ice carnival. Walking by the statue of St. Louis' Chuck Berry across the street from Blueberry Hill, where he performed regularly until he died last year, I couldn't help but think how frigid the bronze was. The man himself was a complete contrast.

I never met Berry as such but I attended the dedication of the statue in 2011. A casual acquaintance with the sculptor, Harry Weber, got me into the room at Blueberry Hill where Chuck was hanging out. That got me this picture, one of my all-time favorites.

Mrs. C and I are attending a fundraiser later today for Senator Claire McCaskill, who is up for reelection this year in this red-leaning state. We need her. Hope I get a couple of pictures while I'm at it.    

Hail Hail

Everyone knows by now that Chuck Berry died Saturday at 90. He was born and lived most of his life in St. Louis (he actually had a bit of an estate in the outer suburbs). 

He still performed from time to time at Blueberry Hill, the bar-restaurant-showroom across the street from his statue. That was dedicated in 2011. My passing acquaintance with Harry Weber, the sculptor, got me into the reception at Blueberry Hill where I took the picture in this link. We last heard him perform in the amphitheater at the botanical garden back in 2009 when he was still knocking it out at age 82.

My interests have gone well past rock and roll but his music still brings me joy.

              

 

Cake Boss

Another work in progress. Artist April Morrison (an actual pastry chef) works on a design for Francis Field at Washington University. The 1904 Summer Olympics were held there. We had the World's Fair the same year. We used to be somebody.

The cake in the foreground of the second picture celebrates the St. Louis Walk Of Fame along the Delmar Loop in University City. The list of inductees contains names you wouldn't associate with The Lou. Betty Grable is from here! And Phyllis Diller! The middle cake refers to Joe Edwards, the unofficial mayor of The Loop, and his celebrated bar, restaurant and performance venue, Blueberry Hill. 87 year old St. Louisan Chuck Berry still performs there regularly.                            

Chuck Berry

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Hail, hail rock and roll!

85 year old St. Louisan Chuck Berry was honored yesterday at the dedication of his statue in the University City Loop. The work, by sculptor Harry Weber, is full of the vitality and the, well, just happiness of Berry's music.

I didn't actually get to meet him. Weber had invited me and we had only discussed the event by email. It was way more crowded that I expected on a baking Friday morning. However, Weber got me in to the reception afterwards at Blueberry Hill across the street, where Berry still plays every couple of months. After some brunch with his family, he signed autographs for fans. That's when I got close enough to take the top picture.

Sorry for no comments yesterday. I was out of the office all morning, had a frantic afternoon at work and then went to the baseball game with my wife and some friends. And who threw out the ceremonial first pitch? Chuck Berry!

Hail, Hail Rock And Roll

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Native St. Louisan and legend, 82 year old Chuck Berry performed last night at the Missouri Botanical Garden. John Lennon said, "If you tried to give rock and roll another name, you might call it 'Chuck Berry'." In a sense, Chuck invented it. He entertained the audience with many of his favorites, including Maybeline, Johnnie B. Good, No Particular Place To Go, Roll Over Beethoven and, of course, Rock And Roll Music. This guy still has what it takes. The crowd went wild.

WHAT'S ON IN ST. LOUIS THIS WEEKEND: on a midsummer weekend, St. Louis artists open their studios to the public. There are 151 participants this year. It's a wonderful opportunity to see original art and talk to its creators. For the third year in a row, I'm going from one to another, asking the artists if I can take candid portraits of them with their work. (Everyone says yes.) If you're interested, look in the archives of July 2007 and 2008 for "portraits of St. Louis artists." Got some great pix today. The first portrait will be up tomorrow but I haven't decided who yet.