Black Music Month Celebrates: Chuck Berry

”If you had to give Rock and Roll another name you might call it Chuck Berry” - John Lennon.

Anyone who knows the true lineage of Rock and Roll knows that it’s father is none other than Chuck Berry, the man who gave Rhythm and Blues an upbeat spin that would become Rock as we know it and shaped the frame of modern music.

Charles Edward Anderson Berry was born on October 18th, 1926 in St. Louis, Missouri to Henry William Berry and Martha Bell. Chuck was the youngest of three children. His faster worked as a contractor and was a church deacon and his mother was a school principal. Berry was interested in music from a young age. Early on in his childhood he knew it was his passion that he wanted to pursue and even started singing in assemblies at school. While he was very talented as a child he was also lived a troubled as a youth who had a number of run-ins with the law that would lead to arrest.

By the late 1940’s Chuck Berry’s life would take a dramatic turn, fortunately for the best. He married the love of his life Themetta Suggs in October of 1948 and they had their first child together by 1950. The new decade of the 50’s would see Berry launch into full musicianship. While working a number of jobs to support his family he eventually started performing with several different bands around Missouri to aid in extra income. Berry learned how to play the guitar and by 1953 he started performing with legendary pianist Johnnie Johnson. It was here that he not only grew his roots in Blues, but Country music as well.

During the mid 50’s Chuck Berry met Blues legend Muddy Water who inspired him to sign with Chess Records owned by Leonard Chess. Eventually Chess would have Berry record a cover version of the Western swing genre song “Ida Red” the song’s title was changed to “Maybellene” and was aided by Johnnie Johnson, Jerome Green, Willie Dixon and Ebby Hardy.

“Maybellene” sold over a million copies and became a mega hit. The song also became notable for being a crossover hit with both Black and White audiences. Berry himself noted that the song was released at the perfect time as Black music was starting to crossover and become a staple on mainstream radio. It was here that Chuck Berry became one of the most prominent voices of popular music. For the remainder of the 1950’s Chuck Berry would release the smash hit Rock and Roll records known as "School Days", "Rock and Roll Music", "Sweet Little Sixteen", and of course "Johnny B. Goode".

It was here that Chuck Berry became often emulated and imitated. He was involved in a number of high profile lawsuits in which he was sued a number of artist who were taking credit for the music he created. As Berry’s musical output and influence grew throughout the 60’s and the 80’s by 1979 he was famously asked by then president Jimmy Carter to perform at the White House in Washington, D.C. for the first ever Black Music Month celebration held by the nation’s capitol, a true milestone that was a testament to the impact of the Rock and Roll legend.

Having passed away in March of 2017, Chuck Berry leaves behind a remarkable and unrivaled legacy. In 1986 Chuck Berry made history as the first artist ever to be inducted into the first annual Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Countless artist from the landscape of world music have been influenced by Chuck Berry including: The Beatles, Elvis Presely, The Beach Boys, Jimmy Hendrix, David Bowie, The Rolling Stones, Ted Nugent, Bruce Springsteen, AC/DC and many more. Chuck Berry’s hands are responsible for shaping the art of guitaring and Chuck Berry’s influence can be found in every genre of music. In that same respect, he is responsible for breaking down barriers between music and race and uniting society with his talent. Music as we know it would not be what it is if it was not for Chuck Berry. Black Music Month Cebrates: Chuck Berry.

~~Dedicated to Chuck Berry, The Father of Rock and Roll.