Sponsor MessageBecome a KQED sponsor
upper waypoint

California Songs: Chuck Berry's 'Promised Land'

Save ArticleSave Article
Failed to save article

Please try again

Chuck Berry is widely admired as one of rock 'n' roll's pioneers. He's best-known for hits like "Johnny B. Goode." But another song, "Promised Land," chronicles a journey Berry made to California from Virginia after serving time in prison. We talk to Berry's biographer Bruce Pegg about the tune's back story.

Sponsored

lower waypoint
next waypoint
Player sponsored by