Little Richard “embodied the spirit of liberation that would be infused throughout the entire art form (of rock ‘n’ roll),” said Stevie Van Zandt at the “Chuck Berry at 100” symposium presented by The Bruce Springsteen Center for American Music at Monmouth University’s Pollak Theatre, Oct. 10.
And Elvis Presley “popularized it for the white people,” Van Zandt continued, with a laugh. “But Chuck Berry was the indisputable king of rock ‘n’ roll.”
And not just because of his titanic guitar playing, Van Zandt said. Because of his lyrics, as well…