Chuck Berry

Chuck Berry is arguably the most influential artist of all time with the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame website stating that he “comes closest of any single figure to being the one who put all the essential pieces together” to form rock and roll.

The musician was born in St Louis, Missouri in 1926. His family were well off enough for him to have a musical upbringing and he made public performances before he’d even left school. His early promise was cut short in 1944 when he was convicted of armed robbery having gone on a joy ride. When he was released he pursued a number of careers all the while moonlighting as a guitarist.He mostly played blues music; he became influenced by country (the favoured music of white people living in Missouri).

After initial cynicism towards the combination, his skill and showmanship soon both black and white audiences. One of his main influences was Muddy Waters who recommended he contacted Leonard Chess of Chess Records. Surprisingly Chess was more interested in Berry’s country direction than his rhythm and blues songs and he recorded a track called Maybelline which went on to sell over a million copies.

Soon Berry was achieving crossover success with Roll Over Beethoven (later covered by The Beatles) making the standard Billboard top 30 (rather than just the R ‘n’ B chart). Touring with the likes of Carl Perkins and Buddy Holly only contributed to his country influences, impressing his peers in the process.

Berry’s rising career was interrupted in 1959 by a second spell in prison but he was able to pick up from where he left off in 1963 due to covers of his songs by British invasion bands. Although by the end of the sixties his recording career had dipped he remained a popular draw as a live performer despite a reputation as being difficult to work with.

He continues to perform today and toured Europe as recently as 2008.