Article updated: 4/6/2012 11:37 AM

Moving Picture: Libertyville blues legend reminisces

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Barrelhouse Chuck Goering plays "Barrelhouse Woman" Wednesday, March 7, at Katerina's nightclub in Chicago. He learned to play the blues from piano legends Sunnyland Slim, Pinetop Perkins, Blind John Davis and Little Brother Montgomery.

Gilbert R. Boucher II | Staff Photographer

Barrelhouse Chuck Goering plays "Barrelhouse Woman" on the piano in his Libertyville basement. He's played piano with blues greats B.B. King, Bo Diddley and Buddy Guy.

Gilbert R. Boucher II | Staff Photographer

Barrelhouse Chuck sings "Ain't Nobody's Business" as blues legend Erwin Helfer plays the piano Wednesday, March 7, at Katerina's blues bar in Chicago. Chuck started his career as a teenager playing with Bo Diddley.

Gilbert R. Boucher II | Staff Photographer

Barrelhouse Chuck Goering plays "School Days" Wednesday, March 7, at Katerina's blues bar in Chicago. He has appeared more than a dozen times at the Chicago Blues Festival.

Gilbert R. Boucher II | Staff Photographer

Barrelhouse Chuck Goering plays "My Own Lonesome Blues" Wednesday, March 7, at Katerina's blues bar in Chicago. He's a recording artist with The Siren Records with a critically acclaimed recording "Got My Eyes On You."

Gilbert R. Boucher II | Staff Photographer

Barrelhouse Chuck Goering sings "My Own Lonesome Blues" Wednesday, March 7, at Katerina's nightclub in Chicago. He played with blues legend Erwin Helfer, taking turns playing sets on the piano throughout the evening.

Gilbert R. Boucher II | Staff Photographer

About this Article

Chuck Goering can't read sheet music. At an early age, Goering was kicked out of his music class, where he was learning to play the drums. Then his piano teacher refused to teach him after a couple of lessons because she felt that he wasn't very good. Somewhere along the way, Goering became "Barrelhouse" Chuck and a legendary blues piano player. (Story and video)