CHUCK BERRY

(Born October 18, 1926)

Chuck Berry brought the blues to rock n’ roll, and rock n’ roll to the blues. He blended R&B, blues, jazz, swing, country, and rock together to make some of the most important and influential music of the 1950’s.

Ever since Chuck was a little kid in St. Louis, he was fascinated by the guitar. By 1950, he was playing professionally in St. Louis clubs. In 1955, he traveled to Chicago, where he met Muddy Waters, and asked him where he could do some recording. Muddy Waters told him about Chess Records, and with Chess, he recorded and released his music.

Chuck Berry was a hit. Many of his songs became rock n’ roll classics, and he stayed very popular throughout the 1950’s and 60’s. He also broke the “color barrier” and brought rock back to its black roots.

He had his bouncy trademark guitar riff, his instantly recognizable duck walk, his defiance, his pride, and his music that no one could avoid. Those were all part of his fame, his image, and the mark he left on rock n’ roll and blues in the 20th century.