Chuck Berry- A Biography

The Story of the Great Guitarist, #6 in Rolling Stone's 'Top Ten'

Sep 17, 2009

Chuck Berry has had a great impact on modern music. He was ranked #6 in Rolling Stone's 'Top 100 Guitarists'. This is a concise biography of his life and influence.

Charles Edward Berry was born on October 18th 1926 in St. Louis, Missouri. When discussing modern guitar and the development of popular music from blues to rock & roll Chuck Berry is an integral and essential figure. From the iconic ever-imitated opening rock & roll riffs to the smooth and slick licks, Chuck Berry pushed music faster and further than anyone before or since.

Berry grew up in a relatively middle-class neighbourhood with a relatively financially secure family. This allowed Berry to delve deep into music while many around him would be forced to early work. However despite an educated upbringing, Berry was arrested in 1944 for joy riding and high-jacking a car with a broken pistol. He was released to see his 21st birthday in 1947. (Collis, 2004)

Beginnings of a Musical Career.

Berry contemplated careers in several occupations other than music. He trained as a beautician and also worked as in many St. Louis factories. However, it was always music which he mainly longed and lived for. He began to sit in as a guitarist for many different bands in St. Louis.

Although he mainly specialised in blues and early rock & roll, Berry began to find small fame playing small country, or ‘hillbilly’ numbers. Berry stated, “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." This enabled him to reach audiences wider than the standard blues circuit. (Weintrab, 2003)

On the 21st of May, 1955 Berry recorded a version of a popular Russ Fritto fiddle tune "Ida Red" name ‘Maybellene’. This went on to sell over one million copies and reached the top spot of Billboard's Rhythm and Blues chart.

At the end of June 1956, Berry’s song "Roll Over Beethoven" (later covered by The Beatles) reached #29 on the Billboard Top 100 chart. Between 1957 and 1959, Berry began finding the charts with many fast selling singles such as “Rock and Roll Music," "Sweet Little Sixteen," and the legendary "Johnny B. Goode."

Dwindling Popularity In Berry's Later Years

Berry’s career hit a snag when he again found trouble with the police. After giving ‘invitation’ to an Apache waitress aged 14 in 1959, Berry received 5 years in prison. (Collis, 2004)

When he was released in 1963 Berry found his career was beginning to blossom once again. The ‘blues-resurgence’ of the 60’s created new interest in his music. Also cover versions of his songs, performed by The Rolling Stones, The Beatles, The Beach Boys and many more, brought great attention and income.

Berry’s career once again shifted and slowed with the changes and altercations in general music taste (along with another jail sentence in 1979 for tax evasion). However Berry’s legendary status in music was maintained, his influence was felt and recognised in every form of developing music. Even to this day, in his early eighties, Berry still performs live and completed a world tour in 2008.

Chuck Berry's Influence

Chuck Berry was named #6 in The Rolling Stone 'Top 100 Guitarists of All Time 'Chuck Berry’s influence has been cited by many famed and well regarded guitarists. From Jerry Garcia of the Grateful Dead to Joe Perry of Aerosmith, it seems near anyone who has created a niche inside popular guitar music owes much to Chuck Berry.

The distinctive 'lead-guitar' intro which he first displayed in songs such as 'Johnny B. Goode', became one of the most recognisable and imitated sounds in the pop charts in the late 50's and 60's, copied by everyone from the Beach Boys to The Beatles.As John Lennon famously stated:"If you tried to give rock and roll another name, you might call it 'Chuck Berry'."

Sources

The copyright of the article Chuck Berry- A Biography in Music Industry is owned by Michael Catley. Permission to republish Chuck Berry- A Biography in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.