Chuck Berry Statue Approved, Despite Opposition

By Spinner Editors Posted Jun 29th 2011 03:30AM

Rock 'n' roll history buffs, music aficionados and statue-loving citizens can relax now -- a short-lived protest against a proposed eight-foot Chuck Berry statue in his hometown of St. Louis, Mo. has been quieted after the local council rejected the protesters' bid to delay its installation.

The statue will soon be a permanent adornment in a public area that acts as a gateway to a row of restaurants, shops and Blueberry Hill -- the revered nightclub where Berry still performs to this day.

The opposition wanted to hold Berry, age 84, accountable for crimes that he paid for long ago. While he was convicted of armed robbery as a teenager -- and tax evasion in 1979 -- the issue that they had with the rock 'n' roll legend (and forefather) mostly centered around a 1962 conviction in which Berry was found guilty of violating the Mann Act.

The law, which forbids "transporting a woman across state lines for immoral behavior," generally exists to protect against indentured slavery and prostitution. But, in Berry's case, it was enacted after allegations that he had sexual relations with a young Native American female whom he discovered after playing a show in Texas in 1959 and then later hired to work at his nightclub, Berry's Club Bandstand -- which was, indeed, across state lines. The girl was fired and then, later, arrested on an unrelated prostitution charge which eventually led to Berry's arrest. He was fined $5,000 and served one and a half years on a three-year prison sentence.

Reuters reports that the statue will be installed later this week, with Berry himself presiding over the dedication ceremony on July 29.

Berry has three songs permanently etched in the 'Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame's 500 Songs That Shaped Rock 'n' Roll' list -- 'Johnny B. Goode,' 'Maybelline,' and 'Rock 'n' Roll Music.' Those songs, along with countless others that were merely influential to music history, tower a lot taller than the eight feet of the statue.

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Comments

(15)

Wednesday 29 June

By BeatleJEB

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

By mirror mirror

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Hail Hail Rock n Roll.

By k

Chuck deserves as many statues as people are willing to erect. He desrves to be in the Pantheon of Rock. He is the King of Rhythm.

By limar

Rock on, my man, rock on!

By Ed

Chuck is the Rock God seen him many times over the years KEEP ROCKIN Congrats on the Statue

By mona

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Wow, all the reports are leaving out that he SECRETLY VIDEO TAPED HUNDREDS OF WOMEN AND EVEN UNDERAGE WOMEN in his restaurant bathroom. That is why people are really pissed off. SO WHAT HE IS A GREAT MUSICIAN! HE IS A PERVERT WHO ALSO HAD CHILD PORN! That is itself disguistung in nature.

By Jim

Really! Prove it or SHUT UP!!

By Lana Sommer

I totally agree with you I was asked to view those videos to see if I was in them SOOOOOOOOOO DISGUSTING HE SHOULD BE LOCKED UP THE THE KEY THROWN AWAY.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

By John

The daddy of Rock & Roll!

By Doc

Controversy over a Chuck Berry statue? Tempest in a teapot - I'll tell you what really burns my grits - the bus station where Little Richard once washed dishes for a living in Macon is now a parking lot! Should be a Little Richard museum!

By Donna

They make more money with it a parking lot...than a museum for that DOUCHE!!!!

By watta fluk

The true King of rock and roll.

By ed baggett

His past run-ins with the law should not be glorified, but his place in R & R history is legendary. Many have erred but few have written so many HUGE hits..as a line in his song...."se la vi.... say the old folks...that goes to show you never can tell"

By ajschrod

How true. On the Bufalo Bills stadium wall they honored O.J. Simpson, and some people thought it should be removed because of his crimes, but more sensible heads prevailed. They will here too.

Pete Rose should also be in the Hall of Fame!

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