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Who was Chuck Berry?
Chuck Berry or Charles Edward Anderson Berry was an American singer, songwriter and guitarist. He is known as the 'Father of Rock-n-Roll' and is regarded as one of the most popular and influential performers in the 'rhythm-and-blues' and 'rock-and-roll' music in the era of 1950s, '60s and '70s. His distinctive sounds from the guitar, vivid descriptions of teenage life, and the melodic virtuosities of the piano player (Johnnie Johnson) have served as a source of inspiration for every rock-and-roll band for more than half a century. He helped create rock and roll from rhythm and blues by combining clever lyrics, precise diction, characteristic country-western music devices, electronic effects and magnificent stage shows. Growing up with a family proud of its African-American and Native-American ancestry and singing in the choir of the Antioch Baptist Church could very well have been his inspiration. He says he borrowed his technique and guitar riffs from 'T-Bone Walker'. Legendary bands like The Beatles, Rolling Stones and the Beach Boys have covered numerous songs by Berry. Later on, he stopped recording albums, but played regularly on tours and on 'one-man' shows accompanied by independent musicians and bands
Career
In 1952, Barry joined pianist Johnnie Johnson and drummer Ebby Harding. Soon, their band became the best in St. Louis.
In 1955, he met Muddy Waters—a popular American blues musician —in Chicago, who advised him to contact Leonard Chess of Chess Records. Berry was signed by the Chess Label. The first recording “Maybellene” sold a million copies and reached number one on the 'Billboard's Rhythm and Blues' chart.
His 1956 song “Roll Over Beethoven” reached #29 on the Billboard Top 100 chart.
From 1957 to 1959, he gave several US hits including “School Days”, ‘Rock and Roll Music”, “Sweet Little Sixteen” and ‘Johnny B. Goode”.
In 1964, he released eight singles. Three out of these went to the top20 of the Billboard 100. Between 1966 and 1969, he released five albums on the 'Mercury' label.
He came back to working with Chess in 1970. They released the live recording of “My Ding-a-Ling”, which went onto become his only #1 single.
In 1975, came out his album 'Chuck Berry' and in 1979, he came out with his last album 'Rock It'.
During the 1970s he performed extensively on the road with his Gibson guitar. But his performances became out-of-tune, erratic, un-rehearsed and un-coordinated in respect with those of his supporting musicians.
Chuck Berry performed at the White House on June 1, 1979 at the request of the then U.S. President Jimmy Carter.
On his 60th birthday, Keith Richards, Eric Clapton, Etta James, Julian Lennon, Robert Cray and Linda Ronstadt organized a celebration concert for him. Taylor Hackford made a documentary on it called 'Hail! Hail! Rock 'n' Roll'.
