Portrait of Chuck Berry

Chuck Berry

Origin: St. Louis, Missouri, USA Years: October 18, 1926 - March 18, 2017

Chuck Berry pioneered rock and roll by fusing rhythm and blues with country guitar phrasing, creating a songwriting blueprint that defined the genre. His innovative guitar work, duckwalking stage persona, and storytelling lyrics about teenage life became foundational elements of rock music. Berry's influence extends across generations, establishing him as one of the most important and influential figures in rock history. He was among the first inductees into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1986 and received a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 1984.

Rock and RollRhythm and BluesRockabillyBluesCountry

Discography Overview

With a career spanning 1955 to 2017, Berry released 20 studio albums and numerous influential singles that became rock standards. His catalog includes 14 Billboard Hot 100 chart entries, with 6 reaching the Top 40 and 'Johnny B. Goode' peaking at number 8. In 2017, NASA's Voyager spacecraft carried 'Johnny B. Goode' into deep space as one of the great achievements of humanity, cementing Berry's legacy as a universal cultural icon.

Key Albums

  • After School Session (1957)
  • One Dozen Berrys (1958)
  • Chuck Berry Is on Top (1959)
  • St. Louis to Liverpool (1964)

Key Songs

  • Maybellene
  • Johnny B. Goode
  • Roll Over Beethoven
  • Rock and Roll Music
  • Sweet Little Sixteen
  • No Particular Place to Go
  • You Never Can Tell
  • School Days

Career Timeline

  1. 1955 Signed with Chess Records; released breakthrough single 'Maybellene' reaching number 5 on Billboard R&B chart
  2. 1956-1957 Released hit singles 'Roll Over Beethoven' and 'Too Much Monkey Business'; established duckwalking stage persona
  3. 1958 Released definitive rock anthem 'Johnny B. Goode' and debut album 'After School Session'
  4. 1959 Released classic album 'Chuck Berry Is on Top' featuring 'Rock and Roll Music' and 'Sweet Little Sixteen'
  5. 1962 Released first live album 'Chuck Berry on Stage' after returning from touring hiatus
  6. 1964 Made successful comeback with 'St. Louis to Liverpool' album and single 'No Particular Place to Go'
  7. 1972 Surprisingly scored only number-one hit 'My Ding-a-Ling' on Billboard Hot 100
  8. 1979 Concert film 'Hail! Hail! Rock 'n' Roll' documented career with Keith Richards and other artists
  9. 1986 Inducted into Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as part of first induction class
  10. 2017 Passed away at age 90 in St. Charles, Missouri; 'Johnny B. Goode' became first rock song played in space

Influence Graph

How Chuck Berry sits in the influence chain

Influenced

  • Elvis Presley
  • The Beatles
  • The Rolling Stones
  • The Beach Boys
  • Jimi Hendrix
  • Ac Dc
  • Bob Dylan
  • Bruce Springsteen

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