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Chuck Berry

 


Chuck Berry | Rolling Stone | tc036

Charles Edward Anderson “Chuck” Berry was born on October 18, 1926 in St Louis, Missouri.,  He traveled to Chicago in May 1955, and met Muddy Waters, who suggested he contact Leonard Chess of Chess Records. The resulting record of "Maybelline", based on the country song "Ida Red", sold over one million copies and set a high standard – a combination of amazing guitar playing, developing the playing style of T Bone Walker, which inspired whole generations of musicians, and composing articulate descriptive songs. He became known as "The father of rock and roll". His lyrics concentrated on teenage life and consumerism. 

Berry has had a number of spells in prison for a variety of offences including offences against the Mann Act and of tax evasion.

Having been ripped off, Berry insisted on being paid cash in a paper bag which he transferred to his attache case.

Although mainly associated with Chess Records, Berry signed with Mercury Records in 1966 and signed back to Chess Records in 1970, staying with them until they folded in 1973.

His final album of new material was released in 2016.

Chuck Berry died and was found unresponsive in his home in St Louis, Missouri,  on 18 March, 2017 from a cardiac arrest and was pronounced dead by the family doctor.

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