Dear South bashers: Give up rock and roll

[stlsaxman]

23. sure- you gave us sweet, greasy bread rolls and (now) oil-soaked beaches but NOT Rock-n-Roll...

Rock And Roll was born on Dec. 31st, 1952 in East Saint Louis, Illinois... ask Eric Clapton, Kieth Richards, Mick Jagger, Bonnie Raitt, etc.

From the Johnnie Johnson wiki page- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johnnie_Johnson_%28musician%29

...the Cosmopolitan Club in East St. Louis. On New Year's Eve 1952, Alvin Bennett had a stroke and could not perform. Johnson, searching for a last minute replacement, called a young man named Chuck Berry, the only musician Johnson knew who because of his inexperience, would likely not be playing on New Year's Eve. Although then a limited guitarist, Chuck Berry added vocals and showmanship to the group. As Bennett would not be able to play again because of his stroke, Johnson hired Berry as a permanent member of the trio.

... and i was at the filming of the movie-

Johnson received little recognition until the Chuck Berry concert documentary, Hail! Hail! Rock 'n' Roll in 1987. That attention helped Johnson, who was supporting himself as a bus driver in St. Louis at the time, return to music. He recorded his first solo album, Blue Hand Johnnie, that same year. He later performed with Keith Richards, Eric Clapton, John Lee Hooker, Bo Diddley and George Thorogood on Thorogood's 1995 live album Live: Let's Work Together. In 1996 and 1997, Johnson toured with Bob Weir's band, Ratdog, playing 67 shows.[3]

In 1999, Johnson's biography was released, Father of Rock and Roll: The Story of Johnnie B. Goode Johnson by 23-year-old Travis Fitzpatrick. The book was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize by Congressman John Conyers, and garnered Johnson more recognition.

In 2000, Johnson was inducted into the Rhythm and Blues Foundation.

Johnnie Johnson induction to the RNR Hall Of Fame:

and in his acceptance speech he sites Alan Freed's coining of the name upon seeing Chuck n Johnnie's band...

but- thanks for the do-nuts and watery sand, in any case!