Celebrating Chuck Berry’s Legacy as We Approach His 100th Birthday
/Celebration of Chuck Berry’s legacy, leading up to his
100th birthday starts in his hometown St. Louis
A multi-year campaign honoring The Father of Rock and Roll includes tribute events, EPs, and albums, launching with Chuck Berry House at Evolution Festival
St. Louis, Mo. – September 16, 2024 - Chuck Berry’s legacy lives on through his songs and the entire rock and roll genre. To honor Berry’s vast impact on music and the world, Isalee Music Company and the Family of Chuck Berry are launching a multi-year celebration entitled CHUCK100, culminating on the icon’s 100th birthday - October 18, 2026.
Chuck Berry House at Evolution Festival
The CHUCK100 celebration kicks off this month with the Chuck Berry House at Evolution Festival, Sept 28-29, in his hometown, St. Louis. The activation - open to all festival attendees - will include one of Berry’s Cadillacs that appeared in the 1987 film “Hail! Hail! Rock ‘n’ Roll,” memorabilia and photos commemorating Berry’s performances in and around St. Louis, video presentations (including behind the scenes footage from “Hail! Hail! Rock ‘n’ Roll” and exclusive interviews), and limited edition Chuck Berry / Evolution merchandise. There will also be an opportunity for fans to record themselves doing the famous “You Never Can Tell” dance from “Pulp Fiction” (made famous by John Travolta and Uma Thurman) in celebration of the 30th anniversary of the film.
“This year's Evolution Festival lineup includes iconic artists such as Beck, Nile Rodgers, The Killers, and Jane's Addiction, all of whom have become rock legends in their own right, influenced by a genre that originated right here in St. Louis,” stated Evolution Festival Co-Producer Steve Shankman. “We are thrilled to honor the musical legacy of Chuck Berry and to kick off his well-deserved, extensive birthday celebration.”
St. Louis Celebrates CHUCK100
Also, on September 28, the first single from a planned series of CHUCK100 tribute EPs will be released on all streaming platforms. Produced by GRAMMY-nominated producer Carl Nappa at The Saint Louis Recording Club, each EP will feature four unique takes on one of Berry’s hit songs.
The first single is a cover of “You Never Can Tell” by What the CHUCK?! (a band that includes Berry’s son, grandsons and members of his long-time touring band). The first full EP will also feature “You Never Can Tell” covers by Dave Grelle’s Playadors, FatPocket, and Mattie Schell.
Each new EP will feature a single Berry song covered by various St. Louis-based artists in unique ways. EPs will be released quarterly throughout the CHUCK100 celebration.
“We’re taking iconic Chuck Berry songs and letting some of St. Louis’ best musicians use their talents and creativity to reimagine them in new and unique ways,” said Carl Nappa. “Hearing Chuck’s son and grandsons play a song their father and grandfather wrote, while giving their own spin, moved the whole room. That’s our first single, off the first EP. With many more EPs to come. This series is a tribute from St. Louis to a world-renowned legend who never forgot his hometown. I’m excited to lift local artists while showing off Chuck’s beloved classics in a whole new light.”
Additional St. Louis-area CHUCK100 events will be announced via official Chuck Berry social media accounts, but are expected to include:
A themed activation at JINGLE! St. Louis holiday spectacular, running November 22 through December 31 at CarShield Field in O’Fallon.
An upcoming collaboration with St. Louis Symphony Orchestra
Celebrations commemorating “Hail! Hail! Rock ‘n’ Roll” and other iconic moments in Berry's career.
Additional exhibit spaces displaying never before seen memorabilia and personal items from Berry’s career.
Unique presentations and performances of music from Berry’s iconic song catalog in St. Louis and beyond.
2025: “Chuck Berry Reimagined”
Isalee Music Company and the Family of Chuck Berry are also announcing an upcoming tribute album entitled "Chuck Berry Reimagined" that will feature internationally-renowned artists spanning the genres of Country, Americana and Rock. The album will be produced by Lawrence and Yves Rothman and released in 2025 as one of the many projects celebrating Berry’s legacy.
Like Berry, Lawrence and Yves are St. Louis natives and as kids visited Berry Park, Chuck's rural retreat where he held concerts and festivals, built recording studios and famously hosted rehearsals for “Hail! Hail! Rock 'n' Roll.” They’re collaborating and working closely with the Berry family on the project.
"It's an incredible honor to help pay tribute to an icon of St. Louis who gave the world the gift of rock and roll," said Lawrence Rothman. "So many artists - myself included - have been inspired by his music for generations, and everyone I've talked to about it is excited to contribute."
"When I first met Lawrence and Yves, we talked about all the great covers of my dad's songs that have been recorded over the years,” said Charles Berry Jr. “They had some great ideas about artists from across a spectrum of genres who could add their unique artistic take to these songs."
“Chuck Berry Reimagined” will also feature unique artwork inspired by memorabilia from Berry’s career. The album’s recording process, as well as behind-the-scenes artist interviews, will be captured and featured in a mini-documentary that will accompany the release.
About Chuck Berry
Chuck Berry’s music has transcended generations. He earns respect to this day because he was truly an entertainer. Berry, also known as “The Father of Rock & Roll," gained success by watching the audience’s reaction and playing accordingly, putting his listeners’ amusement above all else. For this reason, tunes like “Johnny B. Goode,” “Maybellene” and “Memphis” have become anthems to an integrated American youth and popular culture. Berry is a musical icon who established rock and roll as a musical form and brought the world’s people together in song. Born in St. Louis on October 18, 1926, Berry had many influences on his life that shaped his musical style. He emulated the smooth vocal clarity of his idol, Nat King Cole, while playing blues songs from bands like Muddy Waters. For his first stage performance, Berry chose to sing a Jay McShann song called “Confessin’ the Blues.” It was at Sumner High School’s student musical performance, when the blues was well-liked but not considered appropriate for such an event. He got a thunderous applause for his daring choice, and from then on, Berry had to be onstage.
Learn more about Chuck Berry at www.chuckberry.com. For updates on Chuck100, follow Chuck Berry’s official social media channels: @chuckberry on IG, Facebook, X and TikTok.
About Isalee Music Company
Chuck Berry created Isalee Music Company as the business entity to hold his publishing catalog after negotiating to regain control of it from Arc Music in the 1970s. Today, the Berry family-owned company controls all aspects of Berry’s musical legacy, including the publishing catalog of over 290 original Chuck Berry compositions.
About Evolution Festival
Evolution Festival is a celebration of music, cuisine, art, and spirits held in the heart of St. Louis's iconic Forest Park. Now in its second year, the festival showcases a diverse lineup of national, regional, and local artists alongside a showcase of the city's finest culinary offerings, beer, and craft spirits. Evolution Festival aims to celebrate the essence of St. Louis while providing an immersive and unforgettable experience for its fans. Learn more at www.evolutionfestival.com.
Media contacts:
Beth Hoops
419-438-2895