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.

Influence

A pioneer of Rock and Roll, Chuck Berry had a significant influence on others. When Keith Richards inducted Berry into the Hall of Fame, he said, "It's hard for me to induct Chuck Berry, because I lifted every lick he ever played!" John Lennon, another devotee of Berry, borrowed a line from Berry's "You Can't Catch Me" for his song "Come Together," and was subsequently sued by Berry's management. Angus Young of AC/DC, who has cited Berry as one of his biggest influences, is famous for using Berry's duckwalk as one of his gimmicks.

Related Topics:
Rock and Roll - Keith Richards - John Lennon - Come Together - Angus Young - AC/DC

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While there is debate about who recorded the first rock and roll record, Chuck Berry's early recordings, including "Maybellene" (1955) fully synthesized the rock and roll form, combining blues and country music with teenaged lyrics about girls and cars, with impeccable diction alongside distinctive electric guitar solos and an energetic stage persona. Chuck Berry also popularized use of the boogie in rock and roll.

Related Topics:
First rock and roll record - 1955 - Blues - Country music - Electric guitar - Boogie

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Most of his famous recordings were on Chess Records with pianist Johnnie Johnson from Berry's own band and legendary record producer Willie Dixon on bass, Fred Below on drums and Berry's guitar, arguably the epitome of an early rock and roll band.

Related Topics:
Chess Records - Johnnie Johnson - Record producer - Willie Dixon - Bass - Fred Below - Drums

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Producer Leonard Chess recalled laconically:

Related Topics:
Producer - Leonard Chess

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:"I told Chuck to give it a bigger beat. History the rest, you know? The kids wanted the big beat, cars, and young love. It was a trend and we jumped on it."

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Berry's musical influences were Nat King Cole, smooth singer and master pianist, Louis Jordan, very much Chuck's model, and Muddy Waters, singer and guitarist vital in the transformation of Delta blues into Chicago blues and the man who introduced Berry to Leonard Chess at Chess Records.

Related Topics:
Nat King Cole - Louis Jordan - Muddy Waters - Delta blues - Chicago blues - Leonard Chess - Chess Records

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Throughout his career Berry recorded both smooth ballads like "Havana Moon" and blues tunes like "Wee Wee Hours." but it was his own mastery of the new form that won him fame. He recorded more than thirty Top Ten records and his songs have been covered by hundreds of blues, country, and rock and roll performers.

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