Chuck Berry Played For President Carter Day Before Pleading Guilty On Federal Tax Charges On June 7, 1979

On This Weird Day In History: Tax-cheat Chuck Berry and President Carter Made Strange Bedfellows

With the federal government on his tail for tax evasion already in 1979, rock and roll legend Chuck Berry might have been a surprise pick for then-President Jimmy Carter to invite to perform at a benefit for the Black Music Association.

But even though they were on opposite sides of the law, Berry, the artist behind mid-1950s hits like "Roll Over Beethoven" and "Johnny B. Goode" showed up to perform at the Washington, D.C. concert on June 7 - just three days before he pleaded guilty to dodging over $100,000 in taxes.

The conviction sent Berry back to jail after previously being imprisoned for armed robbery and transporting a minor.

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