"Chuck Berry the nicest, kindest, rock star" I got to know...ever

Michael Hepworth

By John Rowlands

HOLLYWOOD (Perfect Music Today) 4/4/17/–Chance can deliver gifts of experience and insight. While shooting stills of Chuck on a TV show in the 70s he asked me if I had ever seen a home video camera and could I use it and shoot the interview he was about to do. It was one of the earliest home systems with an over the shoulder reel to reel video tape player/recorder. He had just purchased it from Bo Diddley who returned recently from Japan with a newer model.

I panned and zoomed through the interview and Chuck and I watched the whole piece and he was knocked out that it looked like real TV show. He asked me what I was doing the following week and I replied I was in school. He asked if $900 would change my mind……..and it did!

As he performed 4 gigs that week I met the nicest, kindest, rock star ever. He was friendly, out going and very generous. I was introduced to family and two of his “secret” children, and the whole while taped the shows and conversations. He loved to see the day’s recordings and laughed that he could watch them whenever.

Many other occasions followed over the years but on this one, I got to know Chuck Berry.

John Rowlands Photography

http://www.rockphotobook.com/

Michael Hepworth

287 S.Robertson Blvd, Beverly Hills, CA 90211