Courtesy of Universal MusicA new PBS special paying tribute to Chuck Berry and featuring archival footage of music legends performing classic songs by the late rock ‘n’ roll pioneer will premiere February 29 on select stations.
Chuck Berry: Brown Eyed Handsome Man will include performances by The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Jimi Hendrix, Bruce Springsteen, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, Electric Light Orchestra‘s Jeff Lynne, Linda Ronstadt and Berry himself.
The special includes a couple of collaborative performances from in the 1987 concert film Hail! Hail! Rock ‘n’ Roll featuring Berry teaming up with Rolling Stones guitarist Keith Richards on “Carol,” and with Ronstadt on “Back in the USA.”
Other highlights include Springsteen and Berry playing “Johnny B. Goode” at 1995’s The Concert for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland; The Beatles performing “Roll Over Beethoven” and The Rolling Stones playing “Around and Around” at respective shows in 1965; Hendrix delivering a rendition of “Johnny B. Goode” in 1970 in Berkeley, California; and Paul McCartney playing “Brown Eyed Handsome Man” in 1999 at The Cavern Club in Liverpool, U.K.
The special, which is narrated by actor Danny Glover, also features Berry performing classics like “Maybellene,” “Wee Wee Hours,” “You Can’t Catch Me,” “Nadine,” “Sweet Little Sixteen,” and “Memphis.”
“This program does a terrific job of showcasing [Chuck] live in concert throughout a variety of eras of his career and it’s a wonderful tribute to see these fellow legends performing his songs,” says Berry’s longtime agent, Dick Alen. “Seeing it all together really drives home how many artists he influenced and that rock and roll wouldn’t have been what it was if it wasn’t for Chuck Berry.”
Here are the performances featured in the special:
“Carol” — Chuck Berry and Keith Richards
“Maybellene” — Chuck Berry
“Wee Wee Hours” — Chuck Berry
“You Can’t Catch Me” — Chuck Berry
“Around and Around” — The Rolling Stones
“Roll Over Beethoven”– The Beatles
“Johnny B. Goode” — Jimi Hendrix
“Back in the USA” — Chuck Berry and Linda Ronstadt
“Nadine” — Chuck Berry
“Sweet Little Sixteen” — Chuck Berry with Billy Kingsley & Rockin’ Horse
“Johnny B. Goode” — Chuck Berry and Bruce Springsteen
“Roll Over Beethoven” — Jeff Lynne/Electric Light Orchestra
“Carol” — Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
“Brown Eyed Handsome Man” — Paul McCartney
“Let It Rock” — Chuck Berry with Billy Kingsley & Rockin’ Horse
“Memphis” — Chuck Berry with Billy Kingsley & Rockin’ Horse
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Chuck Berry Brown Eyed Handsome Man – 30 Sec PBS Promo from Keith Robinson on Vimeo.