Chuck Berry

Charles Edward Anderson Berry (born October 18, 1926), better known as Chuck Berry, is a highly influential American guitarist, singer and composer. Berry was born in St. Louis, Missouri and was part of the first group to be inducted into the new Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on its opening in 1986. He received Kennedy Center Honors in 2000.

Biography

As a young man, Berry served a three-year term in reform school for attempted burglary. He was later arrested for stealing a car. Chuck Berry had been playing a form of the "blues" since his teens and by early 1953 was performing with "Sir John's Trio," a band that played at a popular club in St. Louis. In May of 1955, he traveled to Chicago where he met Muddy Waters who suggested he contact Chess Records. Signed to a contract, that September he released a unique version of the Bob Wills song, "Ida Red", under the title, "Maybellene." The song eventually peaked at No. 5 on the Billboard charts. At the end of June, 1956 his song "Roll Over Beethoven" reached No. 29 on the Billboard charts. In the fall of 1957, Berry joined the Everly Brothers, Buddy Holly and other rising stars of the new rock and roll to tour the United States.

Related Topics:
Muddy Waters - Chess Records - Bob Wills - Billboard - Roll Over Beethoven - Everly Brothers - Buddy Holly - Rock and roll

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In December 1959 Berry had legal problems after he invited a 14-year-old Apache waitress he met in Mexico to work as a hat check girl at his nightclub (Berry's Club Bandstand) in St. Louis. After the girl was arrested on a prostitution charge, so was Berry, who stood accused under the Mann Act of transporting a minor across state lines for sexual purposes. Berry was convicted to five years in prison and fined $5,000. He was released in 1963 but his best years were now behind him.

Related Topics:
Apache - Prostitution - Mann Act

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Chuck toured for many years carrying only his Gibson guitar, confident that he could hire a band that already knew his music no matter where he went. Among the many bandleaders performing this backup role were Bruce Springsteen and Steve Miller. Springsteen backed Chuck again when he appeared at the "Concert for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame" in 1995.

Related Topics:
Gibson - Bruce Springsteen - Steve Miller - 1995

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After travelling the oldies circuit in the 1970s, he was in trouble with the law again in 1979, when he pled guilty to income tax evasion and was sentenced to four months imprisonment and 1,000 hours of community service doing benefit concerts.

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In the late 1980s, Berry owned a restaurant in Wentzville, Missouri, called The Southern Air. Berry also owns an estate in Wentzville called Berry Park. For many years, Berry hosted rock concerts throughout the summer at Berry Park. He eventually closed the estate to the public due to the riotous behavior of many guests.

Related Topics:
1980s - Wentzville - Missouri

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Although in his late 70s, Berry continues to perform regularly, playing both throughout the United States and overseas. He performs one Wednesday each month at Blueberry Hill, a restaurant and bar located in the Delmar Loop neighborhood in St. Louis, Missouri.

Related Topics:
Blueberry Hill - Delmar Loop - St. Louis, Missouri

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A documentary was made about Chuck and a concert he did in 1987 called "Hail Hail Rock and Roll".

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Berry was also the subject of attention in the early 1990s for his alleged voyeurism of female guests in the bathrooms of his home and restaurant.

Related Topics:
Voyeurism - Bathroom

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