Разговорный клуб английского языка с носителем

Английский разговорный клуб

Следующая встреча Английского разговорного клуба при школе "Лингвапарк"
состоится в среду, 20 февраля 2008 г. в 18.30 по адресу Вирмализе 24/26.
Тема встречи: биографии известных людей.
2 часа - 200 ЕЕК

 

Charles Edward Anderson "Chuck" Berry was born on October 18 th, 1926 in St Louis, Missouri. He is an influential American guitarist, singer and songwriter and one of the pioneers of rock and roll music.

Rock and roll music was not invented by one single individual, but Chuck Berry is certainly one of the most important singer-songwriters in the history of rock music. John Lennon once said: “If you tried to give rock and roll another name, you might call it Chuck Berry”.

The importance of Chuck Berry in the history of popular music is well recognised. He was one of the first musicians to be included in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame when it opened in 1986. Three of Chuck Berry's songs (Johnny B. Goode, Maybellene and Rock & Roll Music) were included in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's list of the 500 most important songs in the history of rock and roll. Rolling Stone magazine ranked Chuck Berry in fifth place on their list of the most important names in the history of rock, and he was also ranked sixth in the list of the hundred greatest guitarists of all time.

Chuck Berry was the third child in a family of six. He grew up in the north St. Louis neighbourhood known as "The Ville", an area where many middle class St. Louis blacks lived at the time. His father had a good job and was a deacon at a nearby Baptist church, and his mother was a qualified teacher. His middle class home allowed him to pursue his interest in music from an early age and he made his first public performance while still at High School.

Although in his life he was often in trouble with the law (he was arrested and imprisoned three times), on June 1 st 1979 Chuck Berry was invited to perform at the White House by President Jimmy Carter. In 2000 he received Kennedy Center Honors along with dancer Mikhail Baryshnikov, singer Placido Domingo, actress Angela Lansbury and actor Clint Eastwood.

The lyrics of two of Chuck Berry's songs appear on the next page.* The first, Johnny B. Goode , is one of the most famous rock and roll songs of all time. It was written by Chuck Berry in 1955. The song is a rock and roll version of the American dream – a poor country boy becomes a star by hard work and inspired guitar playing. The opening guitar riff on "Johnny B. Goode" may well be the most famous single riff in rock and roll history.

The second song, My Ding A Ling, was recorded live by Chuck Berry at a concert in 1972. The song tells of how the singer received two silver bells a string from his grandmother, who calls them his ding-a-ling . According to the song, he plays with it in school, and holds on to it in dangerous situations like swimming across a creek (stream) infested with snapping turtles or crocodiles. The lyrics (and the audience's laughter) suggest that the ding-a-ling Chuck Berry sings about may in fact be a reference to his private parts! My Ding A Ling was Chuck Berry's only number one hit.

* You will receive this second page at the English Club!