Chuck Berry Brief Biography

Charles Edward Anderson "Chuck" Berry (October 18, 1926 - March 18, 2017) was an American guitarist, singer and songwriter and one of the pioneers of rock and roll music. With songs such as "Maybellene" (1955), "Roll Over Beethoven" (1956), "Rock and Roll Music" (1957) and "Johnny B. Goode" (1958), Berry refined and developed rhythm and blues into the major elements that made rock and roll distinctive. Writing lyrics that focused on teen life and consumerism, and developing a music style that included guitar solos and showmanship, Berry was a major influence on subsequent rock music.

Born into a middle-class African-American family in St. Louis, Missouri, Berry had an interest in music from an early age and gave his first public performance at Sumner High School. While still a high school student he was convicted of armed robbery and was sent to a reformatory, where he was held from 1944 to 1947. After his release, Berry settled into married life and worked at an automobile assembly plant. By early 1953, influenced by the guitar riffs and showmanship techniques of the blues musician T-Bone Walker, Berry began performing with the Johnnie Johnson Trio. His break came when he traveled to Chicago in May 1955 and met Muddy Waters, who suggested he contact Leonard Chess, of Chess Records. With Chess he recorded "Maybellene""?Berry's adaptation of the country song "Ida Red""?which sold over a million copies, reaching number one on Billboard magazine's rhythm and blues chart. By the end of the 1950s, Berry was an established star with several hit records and film appearances and a lucrative touring career. He had also established his own St. Louis nightclub, Berry's Club Bandstand. But in January 1962, he was sentenced to three years in prison for offenses under the Mann Act"?he had transported a 14-year-old girl across state lines.

Chuck Berry News

• 'The Voice' recap: Katie Kadan, Ricky Duran, Jake Hoot, and Rose Short compete in finals and debut original singles
• The Almanac for October 18, the 291st day of 2019
• 'American Idol' recap: Jeremiah Lloyd Harmon ousted as judges save Laci Kaye Booth and advance her to Top 5
• The Almanac for Oct. 18, the 291st day of 2018