Chuck
Berry faces weapon charge
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
June 3 / 1958
Charles (Chuck) Berry,
St. Louis rock'n'roll guitarist and singer, was at liberty today
on a $1000 bond on a warrant charging the carrying of a concealed
weapon. The warrant was issued yesterday by Magistrate Webster Karrenbrook
of St. Charles.
Berry and a woman
companion were arrested on the western outskirts of St. Charles
as he was changing a flat tire on his pink Cadillac. A state Highway
Patrol Trooper made the arrest when he found a 25-cliber automatic
pistol of foreign make under the front site. It held a clip containing
10 cartridges.
Berry, who said he
was returning from a singing engagement at Omaha, Nebraska, was
fined a total of $30 by Magistrate Karrenbrook on two chargesb of
having an expired driver's licence and of improper registration
of his automobil. The machine was registered in New York.
From about $1500
in his pocket, Berry paid the fine and put up his own cash bond
of $1000 and $250 for his woman companion who was being held as
a material witness. A preliminary hearing on the concealed weapons
charge was set for June 20.
The singer said he
carried the pistol for protection since he frequently was paid in
cash for nightclub and theater appearances. He listed his address
as 3137 Whittier street.
Among the popular
recordings made by Berry, "Johnny B. Goode" is his current hit.
He also recorded such best sellers as "Maybellene" and "Sweet Little
Sixteen".
Berry told authorities
he had served three and one-half years of a 10-year armed robbery
sentence at Algoa Intermediate Reformatory. The sentence was imposed
at Kansas City in 1944, he was quoted as saying.
Charles
E. (Chuck) Berry arrested in traffic case
St. Louis post Dispatch
July 11 / 1958
Charles E. (Chuck)
Berry, rock'n'roll guitarist and singer, who was scheduled for trail
on a concealed weapons charge in St. Charles today, was arrested
early today on a traffic charge in St. Louis county.
Berry, accompanied
by a young woman, was arrested when county police saw him weaving
in traffic. Warrants charging careless driving and improper state
license plates were issued by Magistrate Lessie T. Lewis. Berry
was released on $500 bond returnable next Wednesday.
The St. Charles arrest
ockurred last June 2 when State Highway Patrol Trooper found a 25
caliber automatic pistol He was fined a total of $30 this time for
having an expired state drivers license and improper registration
of his automobile. Berry gave his address at 3137 whittier Street.
Rock'n'roll
singer fined for rock'n'roll driving
St. Louis Post Dispatch
July 17 / 1958
Charles E. (Chuck)
Berry, a rock'n'roll performer, was fined $15 yeasterday by magistrate
leslie T. Lewis at Clayton on his plea of guilty of careless driving
and having improper license plates.
Berry was arrested
last Friday by St. Louis county police after they observed the singers
automobile weving in Natural Bridge road. The car bore a New York
license olate, but he gave his address as 3137 Whittier street.
An attorney entered the plea for Berry, who did not appear in court.
Review
Billboard
Augusti 18 / 1958
Chuck Berry
Carol (Arc, BMI) Chess 1700
Hey Pedro (Arc, BMI) Chess 1700
Chuck Berry, the
rock'n'roller who owns one of the most exciting sounds in the business,
gets a chance to display his talent once again wia his new Chess
outing. And the chanter never sounded better, vocally or instrumentally,
as he pounds out a hard-hitting gal-titled rocker dubbed "Carol".
As soon as the kids get wind of this one they'll be flocking to
the stores. The flipside, "Hey Pedro", is an infectious instrumental
cha-cha with Chuck interjecting a few Mexican-styled lines along
the way.
Review
Billboard
November 1 / 1958
Chuck Berry
Joe Joe Gun (Arc, BMI)
Sweet Little Rock And Roller (Arc, BMI)
Chuck Berry, recently
on the boards with his "Carol" click, and a veteran of many pop
- R&B hits, has a hot new coupling for his many fans. "Joe Joe Gun"
is a thrilling rocker about a meddlesome monkey and his jungle adventures.
Beat filled folk-flavored rocker that drives and drives. Cute lyric
too. Flip is another good jumper right up the teeners' alley.
Review
Billboard
December 6 / 1958
Chuck Berry
Run Rudolph Run (Arc, BMI) Chess 1714
Merry Christmas Baby (Arc, BMI) Chess 1714
R & R star Chuck
Berry hops on the Xmas bandwagon with a hep rockin' novelty about
a lad awating Rudolph and Santa so he can get his rock and roll
guitar. Torrid driving beat will keep the teen feet happy. In "Merry
Christmas Baby" Chuck turns in a slow bluesy reading of pretty Christmas
romancer.
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