ROCK ROCK ROCK!
Rock, Rock, Rock! is a 1956 black-and-white motion picture featuring performances from a number of early rock ’n’ roll stars, such as Chuck Berry, LaVern Baker, Teddy Randazzo, the Moonglows, the Flamingos, and the Teenagers with Frankie Lymon as lead singer. Later West Side Story cast member David Winters is also featured. Famed disc jockey Alan Freed made an appearance as himself. The singing voice of the main character (Dori Graham) was sung by Connie Francis. The soundtrack album, also titled Rock, Rock, Rock, is nowadays widely regarded as Chuck Berry’s first album. (More from Wikipedia)
Chuck Berry also starred in two early rock and roll movies, Rock Rock Rock! (1956) and Go, Johnny, Go! (1959, with the film name taken from a line in “Johnny B. Goode”). In the latter film, Berry appeared with the early rock and roll DJ and impresario Alan Freed. I believe I saw Go, Johnny, Go! many years ago, and I recall (perhaps incorrectly) that Berry was the only African-American in the whole movie, though he never looked out of place.
(June 2013/1)
