Here's how Chuck Berry's "Maybellene" got it's name

In a fairly new book: The Third Coast When Chicago Built the American Dream, Thomas Dyja, describes how Chuck Berry's hit song "Maybellene" came about...However, as described in my book, "The Maybelline Story," Chuck Berry or his attorney, contacted Tom Lyle Williams, founder and owner of the Maybelline Company and asked for permission to use the spelling. Tom Lyle said no, so the spelling was changed to protect Berry from further disputes. Here is how the idea for "Maybelline" came about in 1955.

Chuck Berry’s "Maybellene" was taken from the country song "Ida Red", as recorded by Bob Wills and His Texas Playboys in 1938.  In 1955 Berry brought his version of Ida Red, to Chess Records which he had renamed "Ida May."  Leonard Chess  was enthusiastic about the commercial possibilities in a “hillbilly song sung by a black man, but he thought the title Ida May,  was “too rural”

Spotting a mascara box on the floor of the studio, Chess said, “Well, hell, let’s name the damn thing Maybellene” altering the spelling to avoid a suit by the cosmetic company. “The kids wanted the big beat, cars and young love,”  “It was the trend and taking old recordings and modifying them, by changing the instrumentals and the lyrics was a common practice in the 1950s.

The lyrics struck a chord with teenagers fascinated by cars, speed and sexuality. "Maybellene” became one of the first records to score big on rhythm and blues, country and western, and pop charts. Featuring some inimitable Chuck Berry riffs, some blues-style picking on a country guitar and Johnson’s piano, which added rhythm to the steady back beat, "Maybellene" was a pivotal song in the emergence of rock 'n' roll. This exciting fusion of a rhythm and blues beat with a rural country style was the catalyst for the type of rock 'n' roll that emerged in the mid-1950s.

Read more about it and so much more in The Maybelline Story, buy a signed copy from me. Now listen to the book, on audible books from Amazon.

Happy 89th Birthday Chuck Berry, "Maybellene" has been a hit for 60 years on Maybelline's 100 year Anniversary

Berry's first single release and his first hit. "Maybellene" is considered one of the pioneering rock and roll singles: Rolling Stone magazine wrote, "Rock & roll guitar starts here."[2] The record is an early instance of the complete rock and roll package: youthful subject matter, small guitar-driven combo, clear diction, and an atmosphere of unrelenting excitement.

Spotting a mascara box on the floor of the studio, according to Berry’s partner Johnnie Johnson, Chess said, “Well, hell, let’s name the damn thing Maybellene” altering the spelling to avoid a suit by the cosmetic company.

 In 1988 "Maybellene" was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame for its influence as a rock and roll single.[8]

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame included "Maybellene" in their list of the 500 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll list, as well as "Rock and Roll Music" and "Johnny B. Goode".  In 1999, National Public Radio included it in the "NPR 100," the one hundred most important American musical works of the 20th century as chosen by NPR music editors.

 "Maybellene" is currently ranked as the 81st greatest song of all time, as well as the second best song of 1955, by Acclaimed Music.

Maybellene 1955 liveChuck Berry's Maybellene, ranked # 18, by Rolling Stone magazine's top 500 hits and # 81 in all time rock and roll songs.

Chuck Berry did ask Tom Lyle Williams, for permission to use the Maybelline name.  The spelling is often spelled the same as the mascara.  Read all about it in my book, The Maybelline Story and the Spirited Family Dynasty Behind It.

THE PERRY COMO SHOW, SPONSORED BY MAYBELLINE IN 1956.

1956, was a banner year for Maybelline.....

  It Sponsored the Grace Kelly,

Prince Prince Rainier lll, Wedding,

The Miss America Contest, The Perry Como Show and Chuck Berry came out with the hit single, Maybellene,

 This is from his Saturday night show in the late '50s. "THE PERRY COMO SHOW," which had several sponsors during the hour- including, Maybelline and Polaroid.

On September 15, 1956, the season premiere of The Perry Como Show was broadcast from NBC's new color television studios at the New York Ziegfeld Theatre, making it one of the first weekly color TV shows. In addition to this season premiere as a color television show, there was also a royal visit from Prince Rainier of Monaco and his bride of six months, Grace Kelly.

Perry Como with Eddie Fisher - 1956, Perry Como and Eddie Fisher team up to sing "Maybe" in this 1956 clip.. Forty years later, Maybelline New York, would coin the phrase, "Maybe She's Born With It, Maybe It's Maybelline.

The Perry Como Show, telecast, one of the first, special effect, Maybelline commercials, depicting a "before and after" technique..... transforming, plain eyes, into glamorous, sparkling Maybelline eyes.  This was magic in 1956.  Also Maybelline's, Good Housekeeping seal of approval. represented purity and made it acceptable for family TV.

Read all about Maybelline's television sponsorship, in the 1950's, in my book, The Maybelline Story.