By Keefer
Apr 16, 2021
1944 - On shore leave from the Merchant Marines, Woody Guthrie arrived at Folkway Records studios in New York City, where he started recording. Among the songs during these sessions was This Land Is Your Land, which became an iconic populist protest anthem, covered by artists including Pete Seeger and Bruce Springsteen.
1956 - Chuck Berry recorded Roll Over Beethoven which was released by Chess Records the following month. It is said that Berry wrote the song in response to his sister Lucy always using the family piano to play classical music when Berry wanted to play pop music. The lyric roll over Beethoven and tell Tchaikovsky the news refers to how classical composers would roll over in their graves upon hearing that classical music had given way to rock and roll.