Chuck Berry wanted to be paid upfront. Cash only.
After counting out his $20,000 in $100 dollar bills, Berry went to his dressing room and requested the presence of the bass player. DeSalvo came back with Berry’s guitar in hand.
Did Chuck Berry get paid in cash?
The iconic rock ‘n’ roll legend, who died over the weekend at age 90, replaced the Queen of Soul Aretha Franklin at the 2001 fair. She canceled her grandstand show due to injured ribs.
Berry came to play “Little Queenie,” “Sweet Little Sixteen,” “My Ding-a-Ling,” “Honest I Do” and “Maybellene,” but was remembered for much more than his hit songs.
Larry Luttinger, executive director of CNY Jazz Central, backed Berry onstage as the drummer, along with local musicians Rick Montalbano on piano and Pat DeSalvo on upright bass.
Berry drove himself to the fairgrounds from Rochester, to save money on airfare to Syracuse, Luttinger said. He was late, forcing the opening act The Mid-Life Crisis Blues Band to stretch out their set.
