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Chuck Berry
Berry in Örebro, Sweden on July 18, 2007.
Berry in Örebro, Sweden on July 18, 2007.
Background information
Birth name Charles Edward Anderson Berry
Born October 18, 1926 (1926-10-18) (age 81)
St. Louis, Missouri, USA
Genre(s) Rock and roll
Occupation(s) Guitarist, Songwriter
Instrument(s) Guitar, Vocals
Years active 1955 - present
Label(s) Chess
Mercury
Atco
Website http://www.chuckberry.com/
Notable instrument(s)
Gibson ES-335
Gibson ES-125

Charles Edward Anderson "Chuck" Berry (born October 18, 1926 in St. Louis, Missouri) is an American guitarist, singer and songwriter. Events 1009 - The Church of the Holy Sepulchre, a Christian church in Jerusalem, is completely destroyed by the Fatimid Year 1926 ( MCMXXVI) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the A music genre is a categorical and typological construct that identifies musical sounds as belonging to a particular category and type of music that can be distinguished from other Rock and roll (also known as rock 'n' roll) is a form of Music that evolved in the United States in the late 1940s and early 1950s with roots in mostly African A guitarist is a Musician who plays the Guitar. Guitarists may perform solo pieces or play with ensembles and bands of a wide variety of genres A songwriter is someone who writes the Lyrics to songs the Musical composition (chords or Melody to songs or both A musical instrument is a device constructed or modified for the purpose of making Music. The guitar is a Musical instrument with ancient roots that is used in a wide variety of musical styles In the Music industry, a record label can be a Brand and a Trademark associated with the Marketing of music recordings and Music Chess Records was an American Record label based in Chicago Illinois. Mercury Records is a Record label operating as a standalone company in the UK and as part of the Island Def Jam Music Group in the US and are both subsidiaries of Atco Records is an American record label owned by Warner Music Group, currently operating through WMG's Rhino Entertainment. The Gibson ES-335 was the world's first commercial semi-hollowbody Electric guitar, released by Gibson Guitar Corporation in 1958. The Gibson ES-125 is an archtop, Hollow body electric guitar model that was produced by the Gibson Guitar Corporation. Events 1009 - The Church of the Holy Sepulchre, a Christian church in Jerusalem, is completely destroyed by the Fatimid Year 1926 ( MCMXXVI) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. A guitarist is a Musician who plays the Guitar. Guitarists may perform solo pieces or play with ensembles and bands of a wide variety of genres A songwriter is someone who writes the Lyrics to songs the Musical composition (chords or Melody to songs or both

Chuck Berry is an influential figure and one of the pioneers of rock and roll music. Rock and roll (also known as rock 'n' roll) is a form of Music that evolved in the United States in the late 1940s and early 1950s with roots in mostly African According to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's website, "While no individual can be said to have invented rock and roll, Chuck Berry comes the closest of any single figure to being the one who put all the essential pieces together. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum is a Museum located on the shores of Lake Erie in downtown Cleveland Ohio, United States A website (alternatively web site or Web site, a back-construction from the Proper noun World Wide Web) is a collection of Web pages Rock and roll (also known as rock 'n' roll) is a form of Music that evolved in the United States in the late 1940s and early 1950s with roots in mostly African "[1] Cub Koda wrote, "Of all the early breakthrough rock & roll artists, none is more important to the development of the music than Chuck Berry. Michael "Cub" Koda ( October 1 1948 - July 1 2000) was a Rock and roll singer guitarist Songwriter, Disc He is its greatest songwriter, the main shaper of its instrumental voice, one of its greatest guitarists, and one of its greatest performers. "[2] John Lennon was more succinct: "If you tried to give rock and roll another name, you might call it 'Chuck Berry'. John Winston Ono Lennon, MBE (born "[3]

Berry was among the first musicians to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on its opening in 1986. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum is a Museum located on the shores of Lake Erie in downtown Cleveland Ohio, United States Year 1986 ( MCMLXXXVI) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link displays 1986 Gregorian calendar) He received Kennedy Center Honors in 2000 in a "class" with Mikhail Baryshnikov, Plácido Domingo, Angela Lansbury, and Clint Eastwood. The Kennedy Center Honors is an annual honor given to artists in the performing arts Mikhail Nikolaevich Baryshnikov (Михаил Николаевич Барышников (born January 27, 1948) is a Soviet -born Russian WikipediaWikiProject Opera#Infoboxes --> José Plácido Domingo Embil KBE (born January 21, 1941) better Angela Brigid Lansbury, CBE (born October 16, 1925) is an English Golden Globe Award and Tony Award winning Actress Clinton "Clint" Eastwood Jr (born May 31 1930 is a four-time Academy Award winning American Actor and Filmmaker. In 2004, Rolling Stone ranked Chuck Berry #5[4] on their list of The Immortals: The First Fifty. Rolling Stone is a United States -based Magazine devoted to Music, Politics, and Popular culture that is published [5] He was also ranked 6th on Rolling Stone's 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time. [6]

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame included three of Chuck Berry's songs (Johnny B. Goode, Maybellene, Rock & Roll Music), of the 500 songs that shaped Rock and Roll. " Johnny B Goode " is a seminal 1958 Rock and roll Song by Chuck Berry, ranked by Rolling Stone as the seventh greatest " Maybellene " is a song by Chuck Berry that tells the story of a Hot rod race and a broken romance " Rock and Roll Music " is a song written and originally recorded by Chuck Berry which became a hit single in 1957 reaching #8 in the U [7]

He is one of the few performers besides Elvis Presley who is sometimes known as the King of Rock and Roll.

Contents

Biography

Early life, and first arrest and conviction (1926-1947)

Born in St. Louis, Missouri, USA [8] Berry was the third child in a family of six. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the He grew up in the north St. Louis neighborhood known as "The Ville", an area where many middle class St. Louis blacks lived at the time. His father was a contractor and a deacon of a nearby Baptist church, his mother a qualified principal. Baptist is a term describing individuals belonging to a Baptist church or a Baptist denomination. His middle class upbringing allowed him to pursue his interest in music from an early age and he made his first public performance while still at Sumner High School. The middle class, in colloquial usage consists of those who have some economic independence but not a great deal of social Influence or power. Sumner High School, also known as Charles E Sumner High School, is a four-year Public high school in St [9]

In 1944, before he could graduate, he was arrested and convicted of armed robbery after taking a joy ride with his friends to Kansas City, Missouri. Robbery is the Crime of seizing Property through Violence or Intimidation. Kansas City Missouri only Items for the metro area Kansas City Kansas or North Kansas City MO should go on their respective pages In his 1987 autobiography, Chuck Berry: The Autobiography, he retells the story that his car broke down on the side of a highway and, not having a way home, flagged down a passing car. Berry attempted to commandeer the man's car at gunpoint with a non functional pistol. The carjacked man called the police from a nearby pay phone who quickly pulled over Berry in the car and arrested him and his friends. Berry was released from the Intermediate Reformatory for Young Men at Algoa, near Jefferson, Missouri on his 21st birthday in 1947. [10]

Early career (1948-1955)

Chuck Berry had been playing the blues since his teens and according to the 1987 Taylor Hackford film "Chuck Berry: Hail! Hail! Rock 'n' Roll,", and used both guitar riffs and grandstanding done earlier by jump blues player T. Bone Walker. The Blues is a vocal and instrumental form of Music based on the use of the Blue notes It emerged as an accessible form of self-expression Taylor Edwin Hackford (born December 31, 1944) is an Academy Award -winning American Film director. Aaron Thibeaux Walker or T-Bone Walker or Oak Cliff T-Bone ( May 26 1910 — March 15 1975 Walker's recording [11] By early 1953 Berry was performing with the Johnnie Johnson Trio, a band that played at a popular club called The Cosmopolitan, in East St. Louis, Illinois and whose namesake would become Berry's long-time collaborator. East St Louis is a city located in St Clair County Illinois, USA directly across the Mississippi River from St Although the band played mostly blues and ballads, the most popular music among whites in the area was hillbilly. Berry wrote, "Curiosity provoked me to lay a lot of our country stuff on our predominantly black audience and some of our black audience began whispering 'who is that black hillbilly at the Cosmo?' After they laughed at me a few times they began requesting the hillbilly stuff and enjoyed dancing to it. " [12]

Berry's calculated showmanship began luring larger white audiences to the club. He also began singing the songs of Nat "King" Cole and Muddy Waters. Nathaniel Adams Coles (March 17 1919 &ndash February 15 1965 known professionally as Nat King Cole, was an American musician For the album by Redman, see Muddy Waters (album. For the college football coach see Muddy Waters (football coach. "Listening to Nat Cole prompted me to sing sentimental songs with distinct diction," he said at Blueberry Hill. "The songs of Muddy Waters impelled me to deliver the down-home blues in the language they came from. When I played hillbilly songs, I stressed my diction so that it was harder and whiter. All in all, it was my intention to hold both the black and the white clientele by voicing the different kinds of songs in their customary tongues. " [13]

In May 1955, Berry traveled to Chicago where he met Waters himself, who suggested he contact Leonard Chess of Chess Records. Leonard Chess ( March 12, 1917 - October 16, 1969) was a record company executive founder of Chess Records. Chess Records was an American Record label based in Chicago Illinois. Berry thought his blues material would be of most interest to Chess, but to his surprise it was an old country and western recording by Bob Wills, entitled "Ida Red" that got Chess's attention. James Robert (Bob Wills ( March 6, 1905 &ndash May 13, 1975) was an American Western swing musician Songwriter "Ida Red" is an American traditional song of unknown origins In recent years, Chess had seen the blues market shrink and was looking to move beyond the rhythm and blues market, and he thought Berry might be that artist who could do it. So on May 21, 1955 Berry covered "Ida Red" (renamed "Maybellene") with Johnny Johnson, Jerome Green (from Bo Diddley's band) on the maracas, Jasper Thomas on the drums and blues legend Willie Dixon on the bass. " Maybellene " is a song by Chuck Berry that tells the story of a Hot rod race and a broken romance Bo Diddley ( December 30 1928 &ndash June 2 2008, born Ellas Otha Bates) was an original and influential American William James "Willie" Dixon ( July 1, 1915 &ndash January 29, 1992) was a well-known American Blues Bassist "Maybellene" sold over a million copies, reaching #1 on Billboard's Rhythm and Blues chart and #5 on the Hot 100. [14][15]

Ascent to stardom (1956-1959)

At the end of June 1956, his song "Roll Over Beethoven" reached #29 on the Billboard Top 100 chart. " Roll Over Beethoven " is a 1956 hit single by Chuck Berry originally released on Chess Records, with "Drifting Heart" as the B-side. See Billboard (Turkish magazine Billboard is a weekly American Magazine devoted to the Music industry

In 1956 Berry toured as one of the "Top Acts of '56". He and Carl Perkins became friends. Carl Lee Perkins ( April 9, 1932 &ndash January 19, 1998) was an American pioneer of Rockabilly music a mix of Rhythm Perkins said that "I knew when I first heard Chuck that he'd been affected by country music. I respected his writing; his records were very, very great. " As they toured, Perkins discovered that Berry not only liked country music, but knew about as many songs, and Jimmie Rodgers was one of his favorites. "Chuck knew every Blue Yodel", and most of Bill Monroe's songs as well. William Smith Monroe ( September 13, 1911 – September 9, 1996) was an American musician who developed the style of music known as Perkins remembered, "He told me about how he was raised very poor, very tough. He had a hard life. He was a good guy. I really liked him. " [16]

In the autumn of 1957 Berry joined the Everly Brothers, Buddy Holly, and other rising stars of the new rock and roll to tour the United States. The Everly Brothers ( Don Everly, born Isaac Donald Everly February 1 1937 Brownie Muhlenberg County, Kentucky Charles Hardin "Buddy" Holley (September 7 1936 – February 3 1959 was an American Singer-songwriter and a pioneer of Rock and roll. The hits continued from 1957 to 1959, with Berry scoring over a dozen chart singles during this period, including the top 10 U. S. hits "School Days," "Rock and Roll Music," "Sweet Little Sixteen," and "Johnny B. Goode. " Rock and Roll Music " is a song written and originally recorded by Chuck Berry which became a hit single in 1957 reaching #8 in the U " Sweet Little Sixteen " is a Rock and Roll song written and originally performed by Chuck Berry, who released it as a single in January 1958 " Johnny B Goode " is a seminal 1958 Rock and roll Song by Chuck Berry, ranked by Rolling Stone as the seventh greatest " Author/producer Robert Palmer wrote that Berry’s songs tended to feature country and western inflected light blues melodies, along with plenty of guitar twang. Robert Franklin Palmer Jr ( June 19, 1945 &ndash November 20, 1997) was a 20th century American writer Musicologist, Country music is a blend of popular musical forms originally found in the Southern United States and the Appalachian Mountains. He also had a taste for the "Spanish tinge", as in "La Juanda" and "Havana Moon". The phrase Spanish Tinge is a reference to the belief that a Latin American touch offers a reliable method of spicing the more conventional 4/4 rhythms commonly used

Berry appeared in two early rock 'n' roll movies. The first was Rock Rock Rock, released in 1956. He is shown singing "You Can't Catch Me. " [2] He had a speaking role as himself in the 1959 film Go, Johnny, Go! along with Alan Freed, and also shown performing his songs "Johnny B. Alan Freed (December 15 1921 &ndash January 20 1965 also known as Moondog, was an American Disc-jockey who became Goode," "Memphis, Tennessee," and "Little Queenie. " [17]

Second jail term (1959-1963)

Berry in Deauville France in 1987
Berry in Deauville France in 1987

By the end of the 1950s, Berry was an established star with several hit records and film appearances to his name, as well as a lucrative touring career. He had also established his own St. Louis-based nightclub, called Berry's Club Bandstand.

But in December 1959, Berry encountered legal problems after he invited a 14-year-old Apache waitress whom he met in Mexico to work as a hat check girl at his club. The United Mexican States ( or commonly Mexico (ˈmɛksɪkoʊ () is a federal constitutional Republic in North America. After being fired from the club, the girl was arrested on a prostitution charge and Berry was arrested under the Mann Act. Prostitution is the act of performing Sexual activity in exchange for Money. The United States White-Slave Traffic Act of 1910 (ch 395; codified as amended at) prohibited White slavery. After a trial and retrial, Berry was convicted, fined $5,000, and sentenced to five years in prison. A prison, penitentiary, or correctional facility is a place in which individuals are physically confined or interned and usually deprived of a range of This event, coupled with other early rock and roll scandals such as Jerry Lee Lewis' marriage to his 13-year-old cousin and Alan Freed's payola conviction gave rock and roll an image problem that limited its acceptance into mainstream U. Jerry Lee Lewis (born September 29, 1935) is an American Rock and roll and Country music Singer, Songwriter Alan Freed (December 15 1921 &ndash January 20 1965 also known as Moondog, was an American Disc-jockey who became Payola, in the American Music industry, is the illegal practice of payment or other inducement by record companies for the broadcast of recordings on Music S. society.

Career resurgence (1963-1965)

When Berry was released from prison in 1963, his musical career enjoyed a resurgence due to many of the British invasion acts of the 1960s — most notably the Beatles and the Rolling Stones — releasing cover versions of Berry's songs. The British Invasion was the term applied by the news media — and subsequently by consumers — to the influx of Rock and roll, beat and pop performers The Beatles were a pop and rock band from Liverpool, England formed in 1960 Additionally, The Beach Boys' hit "Surfin' USA", while originally credited as composed by Brian Wilson, is in large part a direct copy of Berry's "Sweet Little Sixteen". The Beach Boys is an American rock band Formed in 1961 the group gained popularity for its close vocal harmonies and lyrics reflecting a California Youth culture " Surfin' USA " is the title of a Song written by Brian Wilson for The Beach Boys, set to the melody from Chuck Berry 's Brian Douglas Wilson (born June 20, 1942 in Hawthorne, California) is an American Musician best known as the lead " Sweet Little Sixteen " is a Rock and Roll song written and originally performed by Chuck Berry, who released it as a single in January 1958 Berry has since been given full writer credit (both lyrics and music) on the track.

In 1964–65 Berry resumed recording and placed six singles in the U. S. Hot 100, including "No Particular Place To Go" (#10), "You Never Can Tell" (#14), and "Nadine" (#23). No Particular Place To Go is a song by American Singer-songwriter and Guitarist Chuck Berry. " You Never Can Tell " is a rock Song by Chuck Berry.

Exit and return to Chess (1966-1972)

In 1966 Berry left Chess Records, moving to the Mercury label. Mercury Records is a Record label operating as a standalone company in the UK and as part of the Island Def Jam Music Group in the US and are both subsidiaries of [18] During his brief time at Mercury, he recorded several albums, including an album of re-recordings of his Chess hits, and an album dominated by an 18-minute-long instrumental, "Concerto in B. Goode". For a variety of reasons—including changing musical tastes and different production techniques—the hits dried up for Chuck during the Mercury era.

He was still a top concert draw, however, and in July 1969 Berry was the headliner of the Schaefer Music Festival in New York City's Central Park, along with The Byrds, Miles Davis, Fleetwood Mac, Led Zeppelin, B.B. King, The Beach Boys, Frank Zappa and Patti LaBelle. The Schaefer Music Festival (which began it's life as the Rheingold Central Park Music Festival in 1966) was a Music festival which had been held in the summers between The City of New York Central Park is a large public Urban park in New York City, with about twenty-five million visitors annually The Byrds were a popular American rock band formed in Los Angeles, California in 1964 Miles Dewey Davis III (May 26 1926 &ndash September 28 1991 was an American Jazz Trumpeter, Bandleader, and Composer. Fleetwood Mac are a British / American Led Zeppelin were B B King (born Riley B King, September 16 1925 is an American Blues Guitarist and Singer-songwriter. The Beach Boys is an American rock band Formed in 1961 the group gained popularity for its close vocal harmonies and lyrics reflecting a California Youth culture Frank Vincent Zappa (December 21 1940 – December 4 1993 was an American Composer, Electric guitarist Record producer and Film director Patricia Louise Holte (born May 24 1944) best known as her stage name Patti Labelle, is an American R&B and soul

After a hitless four-year stint at Mercury, Berry returned to Chess from 1970 to 1973. Although his 1970 Chess effort Back Home yielded no hit singles, in 1972 Chess released a new live recording of "My Ding-a-Ling", a song Berry had initially recorded years earlier as a novelty track. " My Ding-a-Ling " was a 1972 novelty hit record for Chuck Berry, and his only U The track became Berry's only No. 1 single, and it remains popular today. A live recording of "Reelin' And Rockin'" was also issued as a follow-up single that same year and would prove to be Berry's final top-40 hit in both the U. S. and the UK. Both singles were featured on the part-live/part-studio album "The London Chuck Berry Sessions" which was part of a series of several albums by that title which included other Chess mainstay artists Muddy Waters and Howlin' Wolf. The London Chuck Berry Sessions is a Chuck Berry album which was released in 1972 under Chess Records. For the album by Redman, see Muddy Waters (album. For the college football coach see Muddy Waters (football coach. Chester Burnett redirects here For the American football player see Chester Burnett (American football Chester Arthur Burnett ( June 10, 1910

Berry's second tenure with Chess ended with the 1973 album Bio, after which he did not make a studio record for 6 years.

Touring as Chuck Berry, the legend (1970s)

In the 1970s Berry toured on the basis of his earlier successes. He was on the road 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. The Gibson Guitar Corporation of Nashville Tennessee, USA is a manufacturer of acoustic and Electric guitars The company's most popular guitar The All Music Guide has said that in this period his "live performances became increasingly erratic, [. . . ] working with terrible backup bands and turning in sloppy, out-of-tune performances" which "tarnished his reputation with younger fans and oldtimers" alike. [3]

Among the many bandleaders performing this backup role were Bruce Springsteen and Steve Miller when each was just starting their careers. Steve Miller (born October 5, 1943, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin) is an American Guitarist and Singer/songwriter. Springsteen related in the video Hail! Hail! Rock 'n' Roll that Berry did not even give the band a set list and just expected the musicians to follow his lead after each guitar intro. Hail! Hail! Rock 'n' Roll is a 1987 Documentary film directed by Taylor Hackford that chronicles two 1986 special performances from rock and roll musician Neither did he either speak to or thank the band after the show. Nevertheless, Springsteen backed Berry again when he appeared at the concert for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1995. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum is a Museum located on the shores of Lake Erie in downtown Cleveland Ohio, United States

Third jail term, White House performance and final studio album (1979)

Berry's type of touring style, traveling the "oldies" circuit in the 1970s — where he was often paid in cash by local promoters — added ammunition to the Internal Revenue Service's accusations that Berry was a chronic income tax evader. The Facing criminal sanction for the third time, Berry pleaded guilty to tax evasion and was sentenced to four months imprisonment and 1,000 hours of community service — doing benefit concerts — in 1979. Tax avoidance is the legal utilization of the Tax regime to one's own advantage in order to reduce the amount of tax that is payable by means that are within the law A benefit concert is a Concert, show or gala featuring musicians comedians or other performers that is held for a charitable purpose often directed at a specific

At the request of Jimmy Carter, Chuck Berry performed at The White House on June 1, 1979. James Earl "Jimmy" Carter Jr (born October 1 1924 was the thirty-ninth President of the United States, serving from 1977 to 1981 and the recipient of the 2002 See also Executive Office of the President of the United States The White House, formerly known as the Executive Mansion, is the Official residence [18] Also in 1979, Berry released Rockit for Atco Records, his last studio album to date. Atco Records is an American record label owned by Warner Music Group, currently operating through WMG's Rhino Entertainment.

The post-studio era (1980-2000)

Berry continued to play 70 to 100 one-nighters per year in the 1980s, still travelling solo and requiring a local band to back him at each stop.

Berry performing live in 1997
Berry performing live in 1997

In 1986, Taylor Hackford made a documentary film, Hail! Hail! Rock 'n' Roll, of a celebration concert for Berry's sixtieth birthday. Taylor Edwin Hackford (born December 31, 1944) is an Academy Award -winning American Film director. Documentary film is a broad category of visual expression that is based on the attempt in one fashion or another to " Document " reality Hail! Hail! Rock 'n' Roll is a 1987 Documentary film directed by Taylor Hackford that chronicles two 1986 special performances from rock and roll musician Keith Richards was the musical leader. Keith Richards (born 18 December 1943 is an English Guitarist, Songwriter, Singer, producer and a founding member of The Rolling Eric Clapton, Etta James, Julian Lennon, Robert Cray and Linda Ronstadt, among others, appeared with Berry on stage and film. Eric Patrick Clapton, CBE (born 30 March 1945 is an English Blues-rock Guitarist, singer Songwriter and Composer Etta James (born Jamesetta Hawkins on January 25, 1938) is an American Blues, soul, R&B, Rock & roll John Charles Julian Lennon (born 8 April 1963) known universally as Julian Lennon, or by many fans Jude, is an English Robert Cray (born August 1, 1953) is an American Blues musician Guitarist, and Singer. Linda Maria Ronstadt (born July 15 1946 in Tucson Arizona) is an American popular vocalist and Entertainer whose vocal styles in a variety During the concert, Berry played a Gibson ES-355, the luxury version of the ES-335 which he favored on his 1970s tours. The Gibson ES-335 was the world's first commercial semi-hollowbody Electric guitar, released by Gibson Guitar Corporation in 1958. The Gibson ES-335 was the world's first commercial semi-hollowbody Electric guitar, released by Gibson Guitar Corporation in 1958. Richards played a black Fender Telecaster Custom, Cray a Fender Stratocaster and Clapton a Gibson ES 350T, the same guitar Berry used on his early recordings. The Fender Telecaster, also known as the Tele (pronounced Telly is typically a dual-pickup solid-body Electric guitar made by Fender. The Fender Stratocaster, often referred to as the Strat, is a model of Electric guitar designed by Leo Fender, George Fullerton and Freddie Tavares

One of the highlights in the film version was a testy exchange between Richards and Berry on how to set an amplifier for a guitar. Image Entertainment released a new version of the film in June 2006, which contains the original movie and bonus material such as rehearsals and documentaries. Image Entertainment Inc. is a leading independent licensee producer and distributor of home entertainment programming in North America with approximately 3000 exclusive DVD

Berry's business enterprises (1980s-1990s)

In the late 1980s, Berry owned a restaurant in Wentzville, Missouri, called The Southern Air. Wentzville is a city located in western St Charles County Missouri. [19] He also owns a custom built estate in Wentzville, which he dubbed Berry Park. For many years, Berry hosted rock concerts throughout the summer at Berry Park. However, he eventually closed the estate to the public due to the riotous behaviour of many of the guests.

In 1990 Berry was sued by several women who claimed that he had installed a video camera in the ladies' bathrooms at two of his St. Louis restaurants. A video camera is a Camera used for electronic Motion picture acquisition initially developed by the Television industry but now common in other applications A class action settlement was eventually reached with 59 women on the complaint. Berry's biographer, Bruce Pegg, estimated that it cost Berry over $1. 2 million plus legal fees. It was during this time that he began using Wayne T. Schoeneberg as his legal counsel.

Writing credit dispute (2000)

In November 2000, Berry was sued by his former pianist Johnnie Johnson, who claimed that he co-wrote over 50 songs, including "No Particular Place to Go", "Sweet Little Sixteen" and "Roll Over Beethoven", that credit Berry alone. Johnnie Johnson ( July 8 1924 &ndash April 13 2005) was a Piano player and Blues Musician. The case was dismissed when the judge ruled that too much time had passed since the songs were written. [20]

Current activities

Currently, Berry usually performs one Wednesday each month at Blueberry Hill, a restaurant and bar located in the Delmar Loop neighborhood in St. Louis. Blueberry Hill is a Restaurant and bar located in the Delmar Loop neighborhood in University City, a suburb of St The Delmar Loop is an eclectic entertainment cultural and restaurant district located in St In the spring of 2008, Berry toured Europe, with stops in Sweden, England, Ireland, Switzerland and Spain. It was recently announced that he will play in the Virgin Mobile Music Festival 2008 in Baltimore, MD.

Influence

A pioneer of rock and roll, Chuck Berry was a significant influence on the development of early rock and roll guitar techniques and a major catalyst in the rhythm and blues to rock and roll transition. Rock and roll (also known as rock 'n' roll) is a form of Music that evolved in the United States in the late 1940s and early 1950s with roots in mostly African He was the first to define the classic subjects of rock and roll in his songwriting; cars, girls and school. His guitar style is legendary and many later guitar musicians acknowledge him as a major influence in their own style. 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!". Richard Berry (no relation) drew on Chuck Berry's "Havana Moon" as an inspiration for his own song, the now classic "Louie Louie". Richard Berry ( April 11, 1935 &ndash January 23, 1997) was an American Singer and Songwriter, best known as the Havana Moon is a 1983 Album by Carlos Santana released as a solo project. " Louie Louie " is an American rock 'n' roll song written by Richard Berry in 1955 John Lennon borrowed a line from Berry's "You Can't Catch Me" for his song "Come Together", and was subsequently sued by Berry's music publisher Morris Levy. " You Can't Catch Me " is a song written and performed by Chuck Berry, released as a single in 1956 " Come Together " is a song by The Beatles written primarily by John Lennon and credited to Lennon/McCartney. This article deals with contemporary Popular music publishing Morris Levy ( August 27, 1927 &ndash May 21, 1990) was an American music industry executive who is best known as the owner of the record Nevertheless, they became good friends and played together on more than one occasion, famously on the Mike Douglas Show. Mike Douglas, born Michael Delaney Dowd Jr ( August 11 1925 &ndash August 11 2006) was an American Entertainer

Jerry Garcia, of The Grateful Dead, cited Chuck Berry as a major influence along with other musicians such as Wes Montgomery and Bill Monroe. Jerome John "Jerry" Garcia (August 1 1942 &ndash August 9 1995 was a Musician, Songwriter, Artist, and Lead guitarist and The Grateful Dead was an American rock band formed in 1965 in the San Francisco Bay Area. John Leslie "Wes" Montgomery ( 6 March 1925 - 15 June 1968) was an American Jazz guitarist He is generally considered William Smith Monroe ( September 13, 1911 – September 9, 1996) was an American musician who developed the style of music known as The Grateful Dead have played and recorded "Johnny B. Goode", "Around and Around" - AKA - Reelin' and Rockin' and "Promised Land", at least and possibly others. The Grateful Dead was an American rock band formed in 1965 in the San Francisco Bay Area. " Johnny B Goode " is a seminal 1958 Rock and roll Song by Chuck Berry, ranked by Rolling Stone as the seventh greatest " Around and Around " is a rock song written by Chuck Berry. The Promised Land ( הארץ המובטחת, translit: ha-Aretz ha-Muvtachat) is another name for the Land of Israel, the region which according Jerry Garcia performed "Let It Rock" on his **Compliments** - 1974. Jerome John "Jerry" Garcia (August 1 1942 &ndash August 9 1995 was a Musician, Songwriter, Artist, and Lead guitarist and " Let It Rock " is a song by Chuck Berry from his 1960 album Rockin' at the Hops. Compliments is Jerry Garcia 's second solo album It includes one newly-written song by John Kahn and Robert Hunter but is otherwise Both his and the Dead's efforts may have been a little more laid-back, because of the nature of their improvisational approach, but musically they were pretty much bang on the head of the nail.

Angus Young, of AC/DC, who has cited Berry as one of his biggest influences, is famous for using Berry's duck walk as one of his gimmicks. Angus McKinnon Young (born on 31 March 1955 is the lead guitarist songwriter and co-founder of the Australian Hard rock band AC/DC. AC/DC are an Australian Hard rock band formed in Sydney, Australia in 1973 by brothers Angus and Malcolm Young. The Duck Walk is a guitar move made famous by American Guitarist Chuck Berry, and adopted by others such as Angus Young

Berry was also a large influence on such second generation rockers as The Who and Bob Dylan. The Who are an English rock band formed in 1964. The primary lineup consisted of guitarist Pete Townshend Bob Dylan (born Robert Zimmerman, May 24 1941 in Duluth, Minnesota) is an American singer-songwriter author poet and painter who has been a major The Beach Boys' hit "Surfin' USA" resembled Berry's "Sweet Little Sixteen" so closely that they were forced to give Berry a co-writing credit in order to avoid a lawsuit. The Beach Boys is an American rock band Formed in 1961 the group gained popularity for its close vocal harmonies and lyrics reflecting a California Youth culture " Surfin' USA " is the title of a Song written by Brian Wilson for The Beach Boys, set to the melody from Chuck Berry 's " Sweet Little Sixteen " is a Rock and Roll song written and originally performed by Chuck Berry, who released it as a single in January 1958 In the 1980s, George Thorogood created a reasonable career out of what was essentially a Chuck Berry tribute show. George Thorogood (born February 24, 1950) is a Blues-rock performer from Wilmington Delaware. Covering a number of Chuck Berry songs and appropriating the duckwalk, Thorogood toured relentlessly as a high-energy, rock and roll revival act.

While there is debate about who recorded the first rock and roll record, Chuck Berry's early recordings, including his cover of the 1938 country hit "Ida Red", entitled "Maybellene" (1955), are among the first fully synthesized rockabilly singles, combining blues and country music with lyrics about girls and cars. There are many candidates for the title of the first rock and roll record, but it is arguable whether any such thing exists " Maybellene " is a song by Chuck Berry that tells the story of a Hot rod race and a broken romance Year 1955 ( MCMLV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays the 1955 Gregorian calendar) Rockabilly is one of the earliest styles of Rock and roll music and emerged in the early 1950s Country music is a blend of popular musical forms originally found in the Southern United States and the Appalachian Mountains.

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. Johnnie Johnson ( July 8 1924 &ndash April 13 2005) was a Piano player and Blues Musician. In the Music industry, a record producer or music producer has many roles among them controlling the recording sessions coaching and guiding the musicians organizing The electric bass guitar (also called electric bass, or simply bass; ˈbeɪs as in "base" is a Stringed instrument played primarily with the Fred Below ( 6 September 1926 — 14 August 1988 Career He was born in Chicago, and started playing Drums A drum kit (also drum set or trap set) is a collection of Drums Cymbals and sometimes other Percussion instruments such as cowbells It should be noted, however, that Lafayette Leake, not Johnnie Johnson, played the piano on "Johnny B. Goode", "Reelin' and Rockin'", "Sweet Little Sixteen", and "Rock and Roll Music". Lafayette Leake (June 1 1919 - August 14 1990 was a Blues and Jazz pianist organist vocalist and composer who played for Chess Records as a Session " Johnny B Goode " is a seminal 1958 Rock and roll Song by Chuck Berry, ranked by Rolling Stone as the seventh greatest " Sweet Little Sixteen " is a Rock and Roll song written and originally performed by Chuck Berry, who released it as a single in January 1958 " Rock and Roll Music " is a song written and originally recorded by Chuck Berry which became a hit single in 1957 reaching #8 in the U Additionally, Otis Spann played the piano on "You Can't Catch Me" and "No Money Down". Otis Spann ( March 21 1930 – April 24 1970) was an American Blues Musician. " You Can't Catch Me " is a song written and performed by Chuck Berry, released as a single in 1956

As quoted in the liner notes of Berry's album 28 Greatest hits, Leonard Chess recalled:

"I told Chuck to give it a bigger beat. Leonard Chess ( March 12, 1917 - October 16, 1969) was a record company executive founder of Chess Records. History, the rest, you know? The kids wanted the big beat, cars and young love. It was a trend and we jumped on it. "

Clive Anderson wrote for the compilation Chuck Berry — Poet of Rock 'n' Roll:

While Elvis was a country boy who sang "black" to some degree . Clive Anderson (born 10 December 1952) is a former Barrister, now famous for being a successful Comedy writer as well as a . . Chuck Berry provided the mirror image where country music was filtered through an R&B sensibility.

Throughout his career Berry recorded both smooth ballads like "Havana Moon" and blues tunes like "Wee Wee Hours". Havana Moon is a 1983 Album by Carlos Santana released as a solo project. He recorded more than a dozen Top Ten R&B chart hits, crossed over to have a strong impact on the pop charts with seven top ten U. S. pop hits and four top ten pop hits in the UK and he found his songs being covered by hundreds of blues, country and rock and roll performers.

Berry was awarded the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 1984. The Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award is awarded by the Recording Academy to "performers who during their lifetimes have made creative contributions of outstanding

In 2003, Rolling Stone named him number six on their list of the 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time. Rolling Stone is a United States -based Magazine devoted to Music, Politics, and Popular culture that is published [21]

His compilation album The Great Twenty-Eight was also named 21st on the magazine's list of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time. The Great Twenty-Eight is a Greatest hits Album by classic Rock and roller Chuck Berry, released in 1982 [22].

In 2004 six of his songs were included in Rolling Stone's "The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time" list, namely "Johnny B. Goode" (# 7), "Maybellene" (# 18), "Roll Over Beethoven" (# 97), "Rock and Roll Music" (#128), "Sweet Little Sixteen" (# 272) and "Brown Eyed Handsome Man" (# 374). Rolling Stone is a United States -based Magazine devoted to Music, Politics, and Popular culture that is published " Johnny B Goode " is a seminal 1958 Rock and roll Song by Chuck Berry, ranked by Rolling Stone as the seventh greatest " Maybellene " is a song by Chuck Berry that tells the story of a Hot rod race and a broken romance " Roll Over Beethoven " is a 1956 hit single by Chuck Berry originally released on Chess Records, with "Drifting Heart" as the B-side. " Rock and Roll Music " is a song written and originally recorded by Chuck Berry which became a hit single in 1957 reaching #8 in the U " Sweet Little Sixteen " is a Rock and Roll song written and originally performed by Chuck Berry, who released it as a single in January 1958 " Brown Eyed Handsome Man " is a Rock and roll song by Chuck Berry that was released as the B side to " Too Much Monkey Business " [23]

Also in 2004, Berry was rated #5 in Rolling Stone's 100 Greatest Artists of All Time and in 2008 his song Johnny B. Goode won first place in the 100 greatest guitar songs according to Rolling Stone Magazine. [24]

Chuck Berry songs

Many of his songs are among the leading rock and roll anthems:

His other hits, many of them novelty narratives, include:

Among his blues tributes:

His songs are collected on albums like:

References in popular culture

Discography

Singles

Release date Title Chart Positions
US Hot 100 US R&B UK
1955 "Maybellene" (A-Side) #5 #1
→ "Wee Wee Hours" (B-Side) #10
1955 "Thirty Days" #2
1955 "No Money Down" #8
1956 "Roll Over Beethoven" #29 #2
1956 "Too Much Monkey Business" #4
→ "Brown Eyed Handsome Man" (B-Side) #5
1956 "You Can't Catch Me"
1957 "School Days" #3 #1 #24
1957 "Oh Baby Doll" #57 #12
1957 "Rock and Roll Music" #8 #6
1958 "Sweet Little Sixteen" #2 #1 #16
1958 "Johnny B. Goode" #8 #2
1958 "Beautiful Delilah" #81
1958 "Carol" #18 #9
1958 "Sweet Little Rock and Roller" (A-Side) #47 #13
→ "Jo Jo Gunne" (B-Side) #83
1958 "Merry Christmas Baby" (A-Side) #71
→ "Run Rudolph Run" (B-Side) #69 #36
1959 "Anthony Boy" #60
1959 "Almost Grown" (A-Side) #32 #3
→ "Little Queenie" (B-Side) #80
1959 "Back in the U.S.A." (A-Side) #37 #16
→ "Memphis, Tennessee" (B-Side) #6
1959 "Broken Arrow" #108
1960 "Too Pooped To Pop (Casey)" (A-Side) #42 #18
→ "Let It Rock" (B-Side) #64 #6
1960 "Bye Bye Johnny"
1960 "I Got To Find My Baby"
1960 "Jaguar and Thunderbird" #109
1961 "I'm Talking About You"
1961 "Come On" (A-Side)
→"Go Go Go" (B-Side) #38
1963 "Diploma For Two"
1964 "Nadine (Is It You?)" #23 #7 #27
1964 "No Particular Place To Go" #10 #2 #3
1964 "You Never Can Tell" #14 #23
1964 "Little Marie" #54 #30
1964 "Promised Land" #41 #16 #26
1965 "Dear Dad" #95
1965 "It Wasn't Me"
1966 "Ramona Say Yes"
1967 "Laugh and Cry"
1967 "Back to Memphis"
1967 "Feelin' It"
1968 "Louie to Frisco"
1969 "Good Looking Woman"
1970 "Tulane"
1972 "My Ding-A-Ling" (live) #1 #42 #1
1972 "Reelin' and Rockin'" (live) #27 #18
1973 "Bio"
1975 "Shake, Rattle and Roll"
1979 "California"

Note that not all of Berry's UK singles were released in the same year as the initial US release, and not all of Berry's UK singles featured the same A-Side/B-Side configurations as in the US. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located " Maybellene " is a song by Chuck Berry that tells the story of a Hot rod race and a broken romance " Roll Over Beethoven " is a 1956 hit single by Chuck Berry originally released on Chess Records, with "Drifting Heart" as the B-side. " Too Much Monkey Business " is a Song by Chuck Berry. " You Can't Catch Me " is a song written and performed by Chuck Berry, released as a single in 1956 " School Days " (also known as " School Day (Ring! Ring! Goes The Bell " is a Rock and roll song written by Chuck Berry and recorded by " Rock and Roll Music " is a song written and originally recorded by Chuck Berry which became a hit single in 1957 reaching #8 in the U " Sweet Little Sixteen " is a Rock and Roll song written and originally performed by Chuck Berry, who released it as a single in January 1958 " Johnny B Goode " is a seminal 1958 Rock and roll Song by Chuck Berry, ranked by Rolling Stone as the seventh greatest "Back in the USA" is a Song by Chuck Berry, which was first issued in 1959 as a single a-side and on Berry's 1962 album More Chuck " Memphis Tennessee " is a song by legendary Rock & roll singer-songwriter Chuck Berry. " Let It Rock " is a song by Chuck Berry from his 1960 album Rockin' at the Hops. " Come On " is a song written and first released by Chuck Berry in 1961 No Particular Place To Go is a song by American Singer-songwriter and Guitarist Chuck Berry. " You Never Can Tell " is a rock Song by Chuck Berry. " Promised Land " is a song originally recorded by Chuck Berry in 1965 (called " The Promised Land " and covered by Elvis Presley " My Ding-a-Ling " was a 1972 novelty hit record for Chuck Berry, and his only U

Billboard did not publish a separate R&B singles chart in 1964. For this year only, R&B chart positions are from Cashox magazine.

Studio albums

Live albums

Anthologies

See also

References

  1. ^ Chuck Berry. Chuck Berry - Anthology was released in 2000 under Chess Records. Chuck Berry - Anthology was released in 2000 under Chess Records. This is an incomplete list of recording artists who have reached number one on the singles and albums chart in Republic of Ireland. Guitar moves are moves or stunts which are done involving (most commonly an Electric guitar or Bass guitar. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum.
  2. ^ Chuck Berry biography. allmusic. Retrieved on 2006-10-05. Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. Events 869 - The Fourth Council of Constantinople is convened to decide about what to do about Patriarch Photius of Constantinople
  3. ^ Brainy Quote - John Lennon. Retrieved on 2006-10-05. Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. Events 869 - The Fourth Council of Constantinople is convened to decide about what to do about Patriarch Photius of Constantinople
  4. ^ Chuck Berry. Joe Perry. Rolling Stone Issue 946. Rolling Stone.
  5. ^ The Immortals: The First Fifty. Rolling Stone Issue 946. Rolling Stone.
  6. ^ The 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time. Rolling Stone Issue 931. Rolling Stone.
  7. ^ The 500 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll
  8. ^ Chuck Berry
  9. ^ Weinraub, Bernard. [1] "Sweet Tunes, Fast Beats and a Hard Edge", The New York Times, February 23, 2003. Events 1455 - Traditional date for the publication of the Gutenberg Bible, the first Western Book printed from Movable Year 2003 ( MMIII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. Accessed December 11, 2007. Events 359 - Honoratus, the first known Prefect of the City of Constantinople, takes office Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. "A significant moment in his early life was a musical performance in 1941 at Sumner High School, which had a middle-class black student body. "
  10. ^ Chuck Berry
  11. ^ Cohn, Lawrence; Aldin,Mary Katherine; Bastin,Bruce [September 1993]. Nothing but the Blues: The Music and the Musicians. Abbeville Press, 174.  
  12. ^ Chuck Berry
  13. ^ Chuck Berry News
  14. ^ Chuck Berry
  15. ^ Chuck 1955-56
  16. ^ Go, Cat, Go! by Carl Perkins and David McGee 1996 pages 215,216 Hyperion Press ISBN 0-7868-6073-1
  17. ^ Go, Johnny, Go! (1959)
  18. ^ a b Chuck Berry
  19. ^ Chuck Berry
  20. ^ Rock pioneer Johnson dies aged 80. BBC News Online (2005-04-14). Year 2005 ( MMV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 43 BC - Battle of Forum Gallorum: Mark Antony, besieging Julius Caesar 's assassin Decimus Junius Brutus in Retrieved on 2007-11-27. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 1095 - Pope Urban II declares the First Crusade at the Council of Clermont
  21. ^ The 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time : Rolling Stone
  22. ^ The RS 500 Greatest Albums of All Time : Rolling Stone
  23. ^ The RS 500 Greatest Songs of All Time : Rolling Stone
  24. ^ The Immortals: The First Fifty : Rolling Stone

External links

Gilberto Passos Gil Moreira (born June 26 1942 better known as Gilberto Gil (ʒiu̯berto ʒiu̯ is a Brazilian singer Guitarist, and songwriter The University of Missouri–St Louis ( UMSL, pronounced "uhm-suhl" is one of four universities in the University of Missouri System.
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