ROCK AND ROLL TRIVIA!!! September 19 at 7 pm is the rescheduled Johnnie Be Good Virtual Rock and Trivia documentary fundraiser. Because of the pandemic, we postponed the March 14 event, and the in-person event we hoped for remains ill-advised. But you can party like it’s 1999 from the comfort of your home September 19th! Money raised will support the completion of the music documentary “Johnnie Be Good”, about rock and roll pioneer Johnnie Johnson, 2001 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee. A portion of proceeds with go to event co-host Play It Forward STL, a non-profit that refurbishes used music instruments and donates to children who cannot afford them. Please keep in mind, since this event is now virtual, anyone   can now take part from anywhere, so this is no longer just a St. Louis event. If you know someone who might want to support the music documentary “Johnnie Be Good”, please alert them. Registration: www.events.org/rockandrolltrivia. For additional details on the Johnnie Be Good Virtual Rock and Trivia Night please contact betsy@partiesandprops.com.

   –Art Holliday, Director of JOHNNIE BE GOOD

2019 Johnnie Be Good Rock and Roll Trivia fundraiser

 

A recent and exciting development for JOHNNIE BE GOOD is that award-winning actor John Goodman has agreed to do some of the narration for the documentary. As production of JOHNNIE BE GOOD winds down, I’m still looking at ways to make the film great. The goal is to make the film as good as it can be and start submitting to film festivals in 2019. No one wants to cross the finish line more than I do, but in the case of a music documentary that contains a lot of copyrighted material, it’s a tremendous challenge from a legal standpoint. Preparation for a “fair use” argument continues, which would allow the use of copyrighted material.

JOHNNIE BE GOOD examines the musical relationship between two rock and roll architects, Johnnie Johnson and the guitarist he hired in 1952, Chuck Berry. Chuck Leavell, keyboardist for the Rolling Stones appears in the film and this is what he said about JOHNNIE BE GOOD after watching a prior edit: “…congrats on the piece…just awesome and a fab job. I think you have been very fair in the ‘controversy’ of Johnnie/Chuck Berry….and I think that is really important. While there is obviously some thought that Johnnie should have received some royalties for his contributions, it is important to have that balance of pointing out the incredible influence and genius of Chuck. I just wanted to give you my initial thoughts and accolades for doing such a fantastic job.”

In 2005 when Johnnie Johnson died, David Fricke of Rolling Stone Magazine wrote that Johnson “…went on to become the greastest sideman in rock and roll, at the very moment the music was being born.” Should Johnson also be recognized as a partner in one of rock and roll’s great song-writing teams? Not even a lawsuit settled the debate.

Art Holliday Director/Writer/Producer