Chuck Berry, one of the pioneers of rock & roll music, has passed away at age 90. Berry was pronounced dead on Saturday after EMS responded to a medical emergency at his St. Charles County, Missouri home.
Berry is best known for his high energy hit songs “Johnny B. Goode,” “Maybellene” and “Roll Over Beethoven”.
Born Charles Edward Anderson in St. Louis, MO in 1926, Berry started his career as a guitarist with the Johnnie Johnson Trio.
His big break came in 1955 when he met blues legend Muddy Waters, who suggested he contact the boss of Chess Records. After signing with the independent label, Berry recorded his first big hit “Maybellene” — which sold over a million copies and reached number 1 on Billboard magazine’s rhythm and blues chart.
A string of hit songs followed, but Berry’s meteoric career was derailed when he was arrested and jailed for transporting a 14-year-old girl across state lines in 1962.
Following his release from prison in 1963, Berry recorded more hits, including “No Particular Place to Go,” and “You Never Can Tell”.
Berry was among the first artists to be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame soon after it opened in 1986.
He was the inspiration for many rock and roll stars, including British mega-bands the Beatles and the Rolling Stones.
