Berry, Chuck (1926-2017), was an American singer, composer, and guitarist. He became one of the earliest and most important performers of rock music.
Charles Edward Anderson Berry was born on Oct. 18, 1926, in St. Louis, Missouri, and started playing the guitar during his teens. His first hit record was “Maybellene” (1955). More hits followed during the next three years, including “Roll Over Beethoven” (1956); “School Day (Ring! Ring! Goes the Bell)” (also known as “School Days,” 1957); and “Johnny B. Goode” and “Memphis, Tennessee” (both 1958). In 1961, Berry was convicted under the Mann Act of transporting an under-age girl across state lines for immoral purposes. He served 20 months in prison. The conviction damaged his career, and his popularity declined until 1972, when “My Ding-a-Ling” became one of his biggest hits.
Many critics believe that Berry’s lyrics about the social significance of rock music made him an important folk poet. His song “Rock and Roll Music” (1957) is a tribute to that musical form, and he expressed its value to youth in “Sweet Little Sixteen” (1958). His style has influenced many rock performers, including the Beatles and the Rolling Stones. Berry was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1986. Chuck Berry: The Autobiography was published in 1987. Berry died on March 18, 2017.
