While Elvis Presley became the face of Rock ‘N’ Roll, the true genius behind the art form was Chuck Berry. Berry passed away at the age of 90, leaving behind a legendary influence that stretched far beyond rock music.
Berry was born October 18, 1926 in St. Louis, Mo. The future music legend had a run-in with the law and served three years for armed robbery as a teen. Berry was released on his 21st birthday in 1947. Though he’d been exposed to music as a child, he settled into a normal working man’s life and marriage, but eventually picked up the guitar again.
In the early to mid-fifties, Berry started being acknowledged around town as an adept artist. Frequent trips to Chicago expanded his world view. Influenced by blues legends like T-Bone Walker and Muddy Waters, Berry began refining his own guitar playing in a fusion of R&B, blues and jazz styles. It was these seminal influences that helped Berry craft his 1955 breakout hit, “Maybeline,” which many consider the first true rock ‘n’ roll song. (READ MORE)
