#WhatsHappening for March 19, 2017

Good Sunday morning, kids. Hope the weekend is treating you well.

Don't forget to join us this afternoon in support of the St. Baldrick's Foundation. We'll be hosting the festivities as 21 brave souls get their heads shaved to raise money to help find a cure for childhood cancer.

Last year, we manage to auction off Jon's hair for $400- I'm hoping to top that total this year. There will also be a silent auction and other goodies all afternoon, so don't miss it.

The big news, of course, is the passing of Chuck Berry. The legendary rocker died yesterday at his home in St. Charles County, Missouri.

One of the creators of rock and roll, Berry's career spanned 60 plus years and included chart toppers, White House performances, Grammy awards, and what will eventually be an intergalactic audience with the inclusion of his classic Johnny B. Goode on Voyager's "golden record."

Berry signed with Chess records in 1955 and released his first single that same year. Maybellene, an adaption of the Bob Wills song Ida Red, sold more than a million copies and reached #5 on the pop charts, allowing Berry to build crossover appeal beyond the R&B audience.

"Everything I wrote about wasn’t about me but (was about) the people listening," Berry said, referring to the teenagers of the time who were drawn to his song.

Berry was born as Charles Edward Anderson on October 18, 1926 and grew up in St. Louis. He married Themetta Suggs in 1948 and the two remained together until his death. They had four children.

A statement on Berry's Facebook page yesterday said "We are deeply saddened to announce that Chuck Berry - beloved husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather - passed away at his home today at the age of 90. Though his health had deteriorated recently, he spent his last days at home surrounded by the love of his family and friends. The Berry family asks that you respect their privacy during this difficult time."

Hail, hail rock'n'roll. deliver me from the days of old.

Long live rock'n'roll. The beat of the drum is loud and bold.

Rock, rock, rock'n'roll. The feelin' is there body and soul.

Tributes from the music world began to pour in immediately after the announcement.
Keith Richards called Berry "the epitome of rhythm and blues playing, rock ’n’ roll playing. It was beautiful and effortless, and his timing was perfection. He is rhythm supreme. He plays that lovely double-string stuff, which I got down a long time ago but I’m still getting the hang of. Later I realized why he played that way- because of the sheer physical size of the guy. I mean, he makes one of those big Gibsons look like a ukulele!"

Bruce Springsteen- whose E-Street Band backed Berry for his induction to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame- said "Chuck Berry was rock's greatest practitioner, guitarist, and the greatest pure rock 'n' roll writer who ever lived."

The Beach Boys' Brian Wilson, whose band based Surfing U.S.A. on Berry's Sweet Little Sixteen,  said "I am so sad to hear about Chuck Berry passing - a big inspiration! He will be missed by everyone who loves Rock 'n Roll. Love & Mercy."

Mick Jagger said "I am so sad to hear of Chuck Berry's passing. I want to thank him for all the inspirational music he gave to us... He lit up our teenage years, and blew life into our dreams of being musicians and performers... His lyrics shone above others & threw a strange light on the American dream. Chuck you were amazing & your music is engraved inside us forever."

In 2012, Berry told Rolling Stone that "my singing days have passed. My voice is gone. My throat is worn. And my lungs are going fast. I think that explains it." Though Berry continued to perform, his shows featured little more than his trusty Gibson and hastily assembled back-up bands.

Berry had recently finished work on what was to be his first new album in almost 40 years- Chuck- that was scheduled to be released this year. Berry was 90.

Before we get to the birthdays of the big names, I'd like to say happy birthday to Mark, who handles karaoke for me so I can have a day off now and then. And also apologize for calling him in on the night before his birthday! Hope you guys treated him nice!
Birthdays today include: Billy Sheehan of Mr. Big; Derek Longmuir of Bay City Rollers; Paul Atkinson of The Zombies; and Ruth Pointer of the Pointer Sisters. #MusicalBirthdays