On Nov. 19, 1979, Chuck Berry, a legendary rocker, was sentenced to prison on tax evasion charges. The sentencing came after a long legal battle concerning his failure to file income tax returns for years. He did not pay tax on a huge amount of the money he accumulated during the 1970s, leading to his 4-month prison sentence. Funnily enough, this wasn’t Berry’s first incident. His legal troubles were frequent, as his personal life was always very scattered amidst his success.
Chuck Berry was a pioneer in rock, blues and R&B music, with hits like “Johnny B Goode” (as seen in Back to The Future), “Maybellene” and “Roll Over Beethoven.”
Historically a troublemaker, Berry grew up in St. Louis as the fourth of six kids. He began learning guitar in his childhood but would later set it aside. In 1951, he picked up the guitar again and joined his former high school classmate’s band. He eventually met pianist Jonnie Johnson, and they created the Sir John’s Trio. Later, Berry left for Chicago and met Muddy Waters who helped put Berry in contact with Chess Records. The rest is history.
To this day, Chuck Berry remains a massively influential figure in the past, present and future of rock, and his sheer presence outweighs his legal troubles by a huge margin.
We’re celebrating Miley Cyrus’ 32nd birthday on Nov. 23. Cyrus was born to be in the spotlight at an early age. We have watched her grow into a multi-talented genre-bending artist with a diverse career spanning music, film and television.
Cyrus first rose to fame with the wildly successful Disney Channel show Hannah Montana, where she played the dual role of Miley Stewart and her pop-star alter ego, Hannah. This role catapulted her into stardom and recently earned her an honorary title as a Disney Legend, being the youngest honoree ever to receive the achievement.
Throughout her career, Cyrus has reinvented herself with many different eras, each one showcasing her evolution as an artist and individual. After her Disney years, she continued acting, starring in films like The Last Song, LOL, So Undercover, and more, demonstrating her versatility beyond the iconic Hannah Montana role.
One of her most memorable and transformative eras came in 2013 with the release of her fourth studio album, Bangerz. This era brought a new, rebellious Miley to the spotlight, sparking controversy and defining her as an artist unafraid of taking risks. Remarking on her memorable 2013 VMA performance with Robin Thicke. This was her time to break free from her Disney persona and embrace her own identity. As a fan, looking back now, I can see how this chapter was truly iconic, symbolizing Cyrus’s journey of self-expression and resilience.
In recent years, Cyrus has continued to thrive. She had a brief pop-punk era in 2020 before releasing her eighth studio album, Endless Summer Vacation, which included the hit single “Flowers.” This empowering anthem resonated with fans worldwide, reflecting her personal stories of growth and resilience. Earlier this year, she received two Grammy Awards.
Happy birthday, Miley! Growing up with you has been an honor, and we can’t wait to see where your remarkable career takes you next.
