Groovy Friday – The T.A.M.I. Show

It’s Friday!

By now you all know about the passing last weekend of rock ‘n’ roll legend Chuck Berry.  Much has been written about him since then and there’s nothing new I can add here.  Instead, we’ll be looking at the 1964 concert film, “The T.A.M.I. Show”, T.A.M.I. standing for “Teen Age Music International”.  The film featured The Beach Boys, The Rolling Stones, Lesley Gore, Smokey Robinson and The Miracles, Jan and Dean, Marvin Gaye, The Supremes, James Brown and…Chuck Berry.  It was shot live over two nights at the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium in October of 1964.  The producers distributed free tickets to local high school students to guarantee an enthusiastic audience.  It would be hard not to be enthusiastic about that line-up.

In this week’s clip, Berry performs his rock ‘n’ roll classic “Johnny B. Goode” backed up by a troupe of severely groovy dancers.  Included among those dancers are a young Teri Garr and Groovy Friday alumnus Toni Basil.  In addition, the dance moves were choreographed by another GF alumnus, David Winters.  Put it all together and you get this.

Have a groovy weekend!

Groovy Friday extra!  It’s Berry joined by Gerry and The Pacemakers (and those dancers) to perform his hit “Maybelline”.

If this has piqued your curiosity, you can watch the entire film here.

André Dupuy
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