The Bruce Springsteen Center for American Music at Monmouth University will host a daylong symposium and concert on October 10 celebrating the life, music, and enduring influence of Chuck Berry, one of the most important and transformative figures in American music history.
Widely regarded as a founding architect of rock ‘n’ roll, Berry helped shape the sound, style, and storytelling traditions that continue to influence artists around the world. Through a series of conversations featuring journalists, musicians, filmmakers, and cultural historians, the symposium will examine Berry’s artistic achievements, cultural impact, and complex legacy.
The symposium will open with a keynote address by RJ Smith, biographer and author of “Chuck Berry: An American Life.” Throughout the day, panel discussions and film will examine topics including the birth of rock ‘n’ roll; Berry’s role as a uniquely American storyteller; the intersection of race, identity, and popular culture in his work; the evolution of rock guitar; the global spread of rock ‘n’ roll; and the challenges of interpreting Berry’s complicated legacy in the 21st century.
“Chuck Berry’s influence extends far beyond his extraordinary catalog of songs,” said Robert Santelli, the Center’s founding executive director. “His music helped define modern popular culture, inspired generations of performers, and changed the course of American music history. This symposium will explore not only his accomplishments, but also the broader historical and cultural forces that shaped his life and work.”
The symposium will conclude with a special concert featuring guest artists who will celebrate Berry’s music and explore his enduring influence on rock ‘n’ roll.
Chuck Berry at 100 is part of the Bruce Springsteen Center for American Music’s ongoing commitment to exploring the people, sounds, and stories that have shaped the American musical experience.
The symposium will be held in the Pollak Theatre on the campus of Monmouth University.
Schedule
Doors Open
8:30 a.m.
Opening Remarks
9:30–9:40 a.m.
Bob Santelli
Keynote
9:40–10:00 a.m.
RJ Smith
The Birth of Rock and Roll: How Chuck Berry Changed American Music
10:00–10:50 a.m.
Moderator: Melissa Kozlowski
Panelists: Ricky Riccardi, Jim Cullen, and Charlie Giordano
Cars, School, Girls, and Guitars: Chuck Berry as America’s Storyteller
10:55–11:45 a.m.
Moderator: Marquette Folley
Panelists: Alan Light, Anthony DeCurtis, and Bob Santelli
Crossing the Color Line: Chuck Berry, Race, and American Popular Culture
11:50 a.m.–12:40 p.m.
Moderator: Hettie Williams
Panelists: David Hamilton Golland, Marquette Folley, and RJ Smith
Lunch
12:40–1:40 p.m.
Thom Zimny Film Screening
1:40–2:25 p.m.
Thom Zimny
Inventing Rock Guitar
2:30–3:20 p.m.
Moderator: Nick Corasaniti
Panelists: Sonny Kenn, Stevie Van Zandt, and Bob Santelli
The Complicated Legacy of Chuck Berry
3:25–4:15 p.m.
Moderator: Melissa Kozlowski
Panelists: Hettie Williams, Stevie Van Zandt, and Alan Light
Performance
4:30–5:45 p.m.
Performers
- Charlie Giordano
- Chris Plunkett
- Joe Bellia
- Sonny Kenn
- Stevie Van Zandt
- Vini Lopez
