Awchoo.com is proud to present Featured Artist, Chuck Berry.

Born in St. Louis on October 18, 1926 - Chuck Berry's music has transcended generations. He earns respect to this day because he is 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 worlds of black and white together in song.

(Bio Excerpt from the official Chuck Berry site):

www.chuckberry.com

John Lennon said: "If you tried to give rock and roll another name, you might call it 'Chuck Berry'.

Enjoy

Classic most know performance of the 'Box Tops' hit revamped here in 1970 with guest Leon Russell on keys. This is the version that is constantly played on Classic Rock Radio.

Stevie Wonder in the studio 1973 [Superstition]

Alan Freed was probably the best known disc-jockey of the 1950s. His biggest success was in NYC. He is the man who coined the fraze "Rock n Roll"

Freed became internationally known for promoting African-American Rhythm and Blues (R&B) music on the radio in the United States and Europe under the name of Rock and Roll. Many of the top African-American performers of the first generation of rock and roll (such as Little Richard and Chuck Berry) salute Alan Freed for his pioneering attitude in breaking down racial barriers among the youth of 1950s America.

Freed would promote and MC many of the first huge Rock n Roll shows that would have many on one bill.

He was not known without controversy either. In 1958, Freed faced controversy in Boston when he told the audience, "The police don't want you to have fun." As a result, Freed was arrested and charged with inciting to riot. And his career cut short after a payola scandel derailed his radio career. Alan Freed died in 1965 from complications associated from alcoholism. In 1986, Freed was part of the first group inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

The slide show is from the many concert programs from these shows. The covers to these programs can be found on the official Alan Freed website.

Visit and see rock's history from the man, who put it on the map. www.alanfreed.com

slide show by normk111 (you tube)

Tom Dowd was a musician, engineer, producer, physicist, mathematician, and everyday genius. He invented many of the teqniques in recording we know today. Along with Eric Clapton he discusses how the album Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs came together with Clapton, Duane Allman, and Derick and the Dominos.

Filmed at Criteria Studios in Miami, FL, Dowd is shown at work behind the soundboards and reflecting on his memorable career. Dowd, whose creative spirit and passion for innovative technology helped shape the course of modern music, takes the controls behind the mixer relearning the title song Layla 30 years after its creation. From "Tom Dowd The Language of Music."

Mr. Dowd's credits include recording sessions with Aretha Franklin, Ray Charles, Eric Clapton, Otis Redding, John Coltrane, The Allman Brothers Band, Tito Puente, Dizzy Gillespie, Thelonious Monk, Cream, Rod Stewart, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Booker T. & the MG's and countless other musical luminaries.

Born 20 October 1925 in New York, New York, died 27 October 2002 in Aventura, Florida.

One of Tom Dowds legacies is a music treasure chest filled with timeless classics

THX138Driver