Entertainment

Rock n Roll Legend Chuck Berry Dies, 90

Charles Edward Anderson “Chuck” Berry died on Saturday in his home outside of St Louis. He was 90 years old. The singer, songwriter, and guitarist is considered one of the architects of Rock n Roll.

Berry’s notable hits, “Johnny b Goode”, “Maybellene”, and “Roll Over Beethoven” as well as others have inspired generations of musicians. The Beatles, the Rolling Stones, and The Beach Boys have all said that Berry was an influence in their music, and they have covered many of his songs.

“If you tried to give rock and roll another name, you might call it ‘Chuck Berry,”‘ John Lennon once said.

Born in St. Louis in 1926, Berry grew up singing in church and listening to blues and country music on the radio. An admirer of Louis Jordan, T-Bone Walker and Nat “King” Cole, Berry began playing guitar in high school.

Berry’s was among the first musicians inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1986, and the next year he was celebrated in a Taylor Hackford documentary, “Hail! Hail! Rock ’n’ Roll,” with acolytes such as Richards, Eric Clapton, Bruce Springsteen, Robert Cray and Linda Ronstadt paying homage.

Some notable people expressed their thoughts of Berry on Twitter upon news of his death:

Bruce Springsteen (@springsteen) Chuck Berry was rock’s greatest practitioner, guitarist, and the greatest pure rock ‘n’ roll writer who ever lived.

Mick Jagger (@MickJagger) I am so sad to hear of Chuck Berry’s passing. I want to thank him for all the inspirational music he gave to us.
Barack Obama (@BarackObama) Chuck Berry rolled over everyone who came before him – and turned up everyone who came after. We’ll miss you, Chuck. Be good.

 

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