Wednesday, Aug. 17, 2022 at 10 p.m. on KPBS 2 / On demand now with PBS Video App
Using a fresh and innovative combination of interview, archive and animated content, the IN THEIR OWN WORDS series takes viewers on an intimate journey into the lives and minds of some of the world’s most compelling men and women.
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Chuck Berry with early radio executives, disk jockeys and Chess records founder Leonard Chess. (Undated photo)
Courtesy of Berry Family Estate
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Chuck Berry signs autographs for fans circa 1956.
Courtesy of Berry Family Estate
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Chuck Berry performs on the early '50s television program "Hullabaloo."
Courtesy of Berry Family Estate
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Chuck Berry performs in the Cosmo club circa 1954.
Courtesy of Berry Family Estate
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Chuck Berry performs live at the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam, Holland in 1976.
Courtesy of Photo by Gijsbert Hanekroot / ALAMY Stock Photo
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Chuck Berry's wardrobe discovered in a garage at Berry Park outside of St. Louis, MO. (undated photo)
Courtesy of Dalaklis Media
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Chuck Berrys grandson on stage at the world famous Blueberry Hill in St. Louis, MO. (undated photo)
Courtesy of Dalaklis Media
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Marshall Chess of Chess Records fame recounts his days touring with Chuck Berry
Courtesy of Dalaklis Media
On this episode, take a riveting ride on the Chuck Berry train, exploring the life of the man behind the music. By blending "hillbilly" music with R&B and writing impactful lyrics, Berry birthed a renaissance in popular music we now call rock and roll.
See how Chuck Berry builds up recognition after performing with revered pianist Johnnie Johnson and his band in the Cosmopolitan Club. Chuck's charisma and growing presence, however, will soon lead to a changing dynamic within the group.
Chuck Berry's rock and roll single "Maybellene" is an instant hit — a song hailed and celebrated among rapturous teenagers. Yet despite his critical success, Chuck finds himself battling for his money against the music industry's racist inequities.
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More episodes: "Angela Merkel," "Elon Musk," "Jimmy Carter," and "Princess Diana"
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In an effort to rebuild his feeling of self-worth as an artist, Chuck agrees to perform in a documentary, with legendary guitarist Keith Richards as the film's music director. Despite Richards' excitement for the project, Berry is not as convinced by Richards' vision, leading to some disagreements between the two musicians.
