Berries Quote by George Thorogood
“I said if you want to be Keith Richards, you've got to listen to Bo Diddley and Chuck Berry. Then I thought, "What did Bo Diddley and Chuck Berry listen to?" I said, "They listened to Howlin' Wolf and Muddy Waters." Well who'd they listen to? They listened to Robert Johnson. I said, "Ok, we'll start with that."”
About This Quote
To emulate a legendary guitarist, study the lineage of influences, starting with foundational blues artists before moving to modern icons.
In simple terms: Learn from the roots before copying style.
Key Takeaway
Trace musical roots.
Themes
music
influence
learning
heritage
Mood
reflective
inspirational
Type
instructional
historical
When to use this quote
- guitar practice
- listening sessions
- music history class
Key Concepts
musical genealogy
skill development
Questions to Reflect On
- Who are your personal musical influences?
- How can you blend tradition with originality?
A Different Perspective
Overemphasis on copying can stifle personal creativity.
![“She [my mother] said that if I listened to her, later I would know what she knew: where true words came from, always from up high, above everything else. And if I didn't listen to her, she said my ear would bend too easily to other people, all saying words that had no lasting meaning, because they…” quote by Amy Tan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/c7f/amy-tan-730_bottom_she-my-mother-said-that-if-i-listened-to_1475479.jpg)
![“The [2012 covers album] 2120 [South Michigan Ave.] was different. We covered a lot of classics there. But most of the time when we did it I always prided myself on digging up obscure songs that no one knew of.” quote by George Thorogood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/a1d/george-thorogood-10443_albums_the-2012-covers-album-2120-south-michiga_78213.jpg)
![“After the Ed Sullivan Show, Feb. 9, 1964, at approx. 8:04pm [laughs], after that moment every album, every guitar, evey set of drums that was ever sold ... 10% should have gone right into their pocket!” quote by George Thorogood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/10d/george-thorogood-10443_albums_after-the-ed-sullivan-show-feb-9-1964-at_877077.jpg)
