Chuck Berry

American singer, musician, songwriter and recording artist. Berry revolutionized rock and roll with his blend of country music, roadhouse blues and rhythm sets. He is considered one of the best instrumental guitarist of his generation to artists such as John Lennon, Bob Dylan, Eric Clapton, U2, and the Rolling Stones. He achieved his popularity in the mid-1950s and in the 1960s. Even though he no longer had records on the top of the charts, he remained a popular rock 'n' roller in the '80s and '90s. He wrote his autobiography in 1987. Berry was born on Goode Avenue in St. Louis, the fourth of six children. His father worked in a St. Louis flour mill. In the Berry household, music was always played for entertainment. He was first exposed to gospel music, then to swing, blues and Latin rhythms. As a teen, Berry ran around with the wrong crowd becoming involved in gas money robberies. In his career as a juvenile delinquent, he went to jail from the ages of 18-21 for car theft. Out of jail, he straightened himself out and went to work with his dad as a carpenter fixing up houses in St. Louis. He played music at local clubs and dreamed of recording a hit record. In 1954, on a visit to Chicago he met blues singer Muddy Waters who told the amateur singer to see the owners of Chess Records in Chicago. Berry gave the record company a tape of his recording of the country song, "Maybellene." He signed his first record contract with Chess Records and the song became a hit in the New York area. In 1955, Berry began to play concerts, tours and make TV appearances singing his hits "Maybellene," "Roll Over, Beethoven," "Rock 'n' Roll Music," and "Memphis." He continued to make hits with "Go, Johnny, Go," "Rock, Rock, Rock," 1956 and "Let the Good Times Roll" in 1973. He played guitar, sax and piano in his live concerts. Berry learned to become more savvy in the music industry after his first record contract in 1955. In the 1960s, he had over 30 hit records to his roster and later, was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Berry married Themetta Suggs whom he calls "Toddy," in 1948. Toddy's dad came from Calcutta, India. The couple had four children with their daughters Ingrid born in 1950 and Melody in 1952. Despite Chuck's many extramarital affairs, the Berry's have been married for over 50 years. Berry prefers to live in Richmond Heights in St. Louis, Missouri rather than swanky Beverly Hills, California. In St. Louis, he visits the local Denny's without getting too much attention from local fans. He does not enjoy giving interviews, trying to protect his privacy. He has been called a crusty individual by some of his detractors and carries the reputation of being a cantankerous performer. Berry has had his share of problems with the law. In 1962, he was sentenced to three years (and served 22 months) for taking a 14-year-old prostitute across state lines. He did four months in 1978 for failing to pay $108,000 in income taxes. He was charged with the battery of a backup singer in mid-1988. In June1990, drug agents raided his property in Berry Park, Missouri and found marijuana, hashish, rifles and a shotgun. In addition, the agents found porno films starring a minor. In between hard-time, he continued to put out hit records. Berry suffered from a herniated disk in the late '70s. He smokes cigarettes and weighs the same 180 lbs since he was eighteen years old. Police in St. Charles County, Missouri, were called to Berry's house on March 18, 2017, where he was unresponsive. Berry was pronounced dead at the scene at 1:26 p.m.; he was 90. Link to Wikipedia biography