Hi guys.

I'm trying to find out the names of the backing musicians who played with Chuck when he originally recorded "Maybelline" and "You can't catch me" for Chess.

Can anybody help?

Many thanks

Jay

Maybellene
Chuck Berry - vocals, guitar
Johnnie Johnson - piano
Willie Dixon - double bass
Ebby Hardy - drums
Jerome Green or Leonard Chess - maracas

You Can't Catch Me
Chuck Berry - vocals, guitar
Johnnie Johnson or Otis Spann - piano
Willie Dixon - double bass
Ebby Hardy - drums

That's great!! Thank you very much

I must've spent a good two hours trying to google that info last night with no success.

Jerome Green? Is that the Jerome who played maracas on Bo Diddleys early recordings? The "Bring it to Jerome" guy? Cool!! I didn't know he played on Chucks recordings.
The only backing musician on those tracks I was sure of was Willie Dixon. I'd know his bass playing anywhere!!

Cheers,

Jay

Jay:

Most blues scholar-types/discographers and Chess credit Otis Spann with the piano on "You Can't Catch Me". As a lifelong disciple of Mr. Spann, I'd pretty much bet the ranch on it myself...those licks and timing are classic Spann.

Hi Robert,

you are correct. Even though Johnnie Johnson claims to have been there, most discographers credit indeed Otis Spann with the piano.

No one will be able to clarify this 100 %, but I corrected my info.

Best regards,
Wolfgang Guhl
www.chuckberry.de