Who is Chuck Berry

Chuck Berry was the first artist to fuse all of the essential elements of what was to become rock and roll. Everything about his music, from his songs, to how the music was structured, to his on stage presence immediately identifies him as the first true rock and roll performer. The elements he fused together included:

Great song writing - In addition to his semi-autobiographical Johnny B Goode, Chuck Berry wrote about themes that his audience could immediately identify with; teenage rebellion, and love. Later in his career he also wrote about fame, loneliness and rejection.

In addition to his songs lyrics, Berry moved away from his blues roots by insuring he sang with clear diction, so that his lyrics could be understood. Since he also had a habit of ad-libbing lyrics during performances, his diction allowed his audience to appreciate each unique performance.

Great guitarist - Chuck Berry took the gutiar out from being a supporting instrument, into the lead. He bagan playing classic blues horn riffs on his guitar, creating the distinctive sound of the rock and roll lead guitar. He also enhanced the instrumental sound of rock and roll by using his guitar to generate driving rhythms, which echoed the lyrics of his songs.

Greatest on stage performer - In 'The History of Rock and Roll', Eric Burden recounted how in the mid 60's, the Animals were on tour with Chuck Berry in the UK, and after the first performance realized that you simply could not out-rock Chuck Berry. In addition to his signature 'duck walk' (started in 1956 to hide the wrinkles in rayon suit), Berry was a true showman on stage, always exciting and entertaining.

In the early days of rock and roll, Chuck Berry became good friends with another rock pioneer, Carl Perkins. In 'The History of Rock and Roll' Carl Perkins observed that Chuck Berry's guitar was always out of tune, but once he started playing, and did his duck walk, it didn't matter.

Several years later, as rock and roll began to mature, Chuck Berry would tour without a back up band. Instead his promoter would arrange for local bands to be his back up (one such band included a young Bruce Springsteen). At the time his music was such an integral part of rock and roll, that if you wanted to be taken seriously as a rock and roller, you had to know how to play every Chuck Berry song.

Chuck Berry's music became a rite of passage of the next generation of rock musicians.

1955 to 1959 - 17 songs in Billboard Hot 100 charts

1984 - Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award

1986 - First inductee into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

2000 - Kennedy Center Honors

2003 - Rolling Stone #6 Greatest Guitarist of all time

2003 - Compilation album 'The Great 28' listed at #21 on Rolling Stone's 100 Greatest Albums of all time

2004 - Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Songs of all time include: "Johnny B. Goode" (#7), "Maybellene" (#18), "Roll Over Beethoven" (#97), "Rock and Roll Music" (#128), "Sweet Little Sixteen" (# 272) and "Brown Eyed Handsome Man" (# 374)

2004 - Rolling Stone rated #5 of the100 Greatest Artists of all time

2008 - Johnny B Goode ranked #1 in Rolling Stones 100 Greatest Guitar songs of all time

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