Stephanie Platt of The Current

by Anne Porter
staff associate

Some things make it worthwhile to get out of bed. Other items may even excuse a late appearance to class. In either case, the Johnnie Johnson and Billy Peek Blues and Jazz concert at the University center patio can be considered an excellent reason to do the first or the latter, or both.

The concert, co-sponsored by the UM-St. Louis Office of Student Activities, in cooperation with the Center for Humanities, was included in the activities for the fifth annual "What is a City?" conference. The theme for this conference, "Constructing Local Cultures," entailed local music, storytelling, and folk art. All displays and concerts were free and open to the public. Rick Blanton, the director of Student Activites, coordinated the concert with the Center for Humanities.

"Anytime you put a Rock n' Roll Hall of Fame piano legend like Johnnie Johnson and Grammy Award winner five-year Rod Stewart band member Billy Peek together and they play like they haven't missed a beat, it's phenomenal," Blanton said.

Liz Foehner, a sophomore majoring in elementary education, noticed a definite difference in this concert.

"This is the biggest crowd I've ever seen for a band on campus. Usually people don't stop," Foehner said.

Marc Matusiak, a third-year senior majoring in mass communication, enjoyed Johnson's performance so much he returned a second time to listen.

"It was phenomenal. It's the type of music I like, and coming out from eating breakfast and seeing a show is a great surprise," Matusiak said.

Kyle Silverman, a sophomore majoring in special education, hopes to see more shows like this concert.

"This is an absolutely great experience. It's amazing to see an actual legend on campus here for free. We definitely need more events like this," Silverman said.

Even faculty from South Campus made the trek to see Johnson and Peek. Judy Cochran, an associate professor of education, snuck into the concert a little late but stayed long enough to make the most of her time there.

"It's better than anything I've heard downtown," Cochran said.

Johnson included audience participation during the concert when he had them sing some of the lyrics to "Let the Good Times Roll."

The band players included Tom Mahoney (guitar), Gus Thorntorn (base guitar), Kenny Rice (drums), and Johnnie Johnson (piano keyboard).

Songs performed ranged from classics like "Kansas City" to less-known, but equally enjoyable "Slide Serenade."

"Let the Good Times Roll" was performed to celebrate his receiving the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Black National Congress.

"That was another great honor. I enjoyed that," Johnson said.

The Congress also named Johnson the Father of rock 'n' roll.

Johnson recently received a nomination to the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame.

"I could have been nominated earlier, but they couldn't find a category to put me in because I don't just play rock 'n' roll; I play jazz and blues," Johnson said.

Johnson was also a bandleader for 20 years.

Johnson's influences include Pinetop Boogie Woogy legends such as Pete Johnson.

"As I began to get older, I fell in love with the jazz piano of Oscar Peterson," Johnson said.

Currently, Atlantic Records is putting together a celebration featuring Johnson and all the famous influences on Dec. 1 in Los Angeles.

"That's a great feeling to know that your music has caught the attention of that many people," Johnson said.

Chuck Berry wrote the song "Johnny B. Goode" as a salute to Johnson. That song also served as the perfect close for the concert.

"That tribute to me by Chuck Berry was really a surprise. I had no idea anything like that was going on," Johnson said.

Johnson hired Berry in 1953, and the pair played together until 1973.

"We've always worked out. We were really a team," Johnson said.

In that team, Berry wrote the lyrics, and together they made the music to accompany the words.

Johnson, born in West Virginia, loves St. Louis.

"I wouldn't live any place else. Any kind of progress you can make, you can make it here in St. Louis," Johnson said.

Billy Peek, St. Louis native, toured with Rod Stewart for five years and won a Grammy for "Can a White Boy Sing the Blues?"

"Chuck [Berry] really took me under his wing and showed me what tours were like," Peek said.

Stewart saw Peek performing with Berry on a televised rock concert in 1975. About three months later, Peek was asked to help Stewart make a record. From that point, Peek became a member of the band, made four albums, and participated in three world tours.

Peek's influences include Ike Turner, Albert King, and Johnnie Johnson.

"When I write my own songs, I usually write about a lot of things that have to do with St. Louis," Peek said.

"Sippin' on a Bud" is one such song.

Peek met Berry at the Casa Loma Ballroom while filming a song for the television show, St. Louis Hop, which was the St. Louis version of American Bandstand.

Peek opened for Berry who headlined the event.

From that night on, Berry followed Peek around from gig to gig, until he eventually invited Peek to play at his Wentzville country club. In 1969, Berry asked Peek to play back-up sets and later accompany him to dates outside of St. Louis.

Elvis even went to see Berry and Peek play in Las Vegas two nights in a row.

"I owe a lot to Chuck [Berry], and I owe a lot to Rod [Stewart]," Peek said.

Both Peek and Johnson worked to make this a great, enjoyable event and an excellent way to define "What is a City?"