Sunday 9pm IN THEIR OWN WORDS: CHUCK BERRY – Documentary
Using a fresh and innovative combination of interview, archive and animated content, "In Their Own Words" is an intimate journey into the lives and minds of some of the world’s most compelling men and women.
In Their Own Words highlights the legendary rock n roll icon Chuck Berry. The film episode explores the life and impact of the father of rock 'n' roll through his own words as well as interviews with his widow, son, daughter, and musicians inspired by his sound—which means almost anyone involved in rock music for the past half-century. Musicians as varied as Keith Richards, Robert Cray, Slash, and Darius Rucker speak to Berry’s influence.
Berry grew up in The Ville neighborhood of St. Louis, attended Sumner High School, and was a game-changer: Combining blues, country, and other popular music styles, he created an entirely new sound. His hit songs—starting with “Maybellene” in 1955, which topped R&B charts—combined with his stage presence, skyrocketed him to fame and inspired generations of musicians. His “Johnny B. Goode” was the only rock song sent into space on Voyager 1’s Golden Record, and he was the first musician inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1986.
But his offstage presence, too, is vital to understanding Berry. He was known as a family man, which son Charles “Butch” Berry and daughter Melody Berry Eskridge will likely speak to. Before his death in 2017, 90-year-old Berry announced he was working on a new album dedicated to his wife of 68 years, Thelmetta “Toddy” Berry, also featured in the documentary. The album was released posthumously.
Berry’s life, though, was not without scandal. He could be difficult to tour with. Berry also faced legal challenges numerous times during his life, from armed robbery as a teenager to sexual misconduct and tax evasion later in life. Still, he continued to perform, both on the road and hosting shows at Blueberry Hill in St Louis one Wednesday a month until 2014.
