Chuck Berry 1926 - 2017

2. Born in St. Louis on October 18, 1926 Berry had many influences on his life that
shaped his musical style. He emulated the smooth vocal clarity of his idol, Nat King
Cole, while playing blues songs from bands like Muddy Waters. For his first stage
performance, Berry chose to sing a Jay McShann song called “Confessin’ the Blues.” It
was at his high school’s student musical performance, when the blues was well-liked
but not considered appropriate for such an event. He got a thunderous applause for
his daring choice, and from then on, Berry had to be onstage.
Chuck Berry’s music has transcended generations. He earns respect to this day because
he is truly an entertainer. Berry, also known as “The Father of Rock & Roll,” gained
success by watching the audience’s reaction and playing accordingly, putting his
listeners’ amusement above all else. For this reason, tunes like “Johnny B. Goode,”
“Maybellene” and “Memphis” have become anthems to an integrated American youth
and popular culture.

3. Performing Sweet Little Sixteen with his
Gibson hollow body guitar around 1958.
Photograph: Michael Ochs Archives/Getty
Images

4. The famous ‘duck walk’ from the
Tami Show film, December 1964.
Photograph: Michael Ochs
Archives/Getty Images

5. Performing on Soul Train in the 1970s. Photograph: Getty Images

7. With Mick Jagger backstage at
Madison Square Garden, New York,
28 November 1969. The concert was
later released as live album Get Yer
Ya-Ya’s Out. Photograph: Michael
Ochs Archives/Getty Images

8. With Bo Diddley in concert, 12 April 1974. Photograph: ABC Photo Archives/Getty Images

9. Chuck Berry
Late 1970's or early 1980's

10. Circa 1975. Photograph: Terry O'Neill/Getty Images

11. Chuck Berry 1969

13. Chuck Berry, in a performance in
Montevideo in 2013. Chuck Berry,
in a performance in Montevideo in
2013. L. BUSACCA

14. Berry junto a Clinton y Blair en 1997. WHITE HOUSE AFP

16. With Michael Jackson at a Grammy
Awards reception at Chasen’s
restaurant circa 1978 in Los Angeles.
Photograph: Brad
Elterman/BuzzFoto/FilmMagic

18. Photograph: ABC Photo Archives/Getty Images

19. With Ray Charles. Photograph: Lynn Goldsmith/Corbis/VCG via Getty Images

21. Performing with Keith
Richards for Chuck’s 60th
birthday concert for the
filming of Hail! Hail!
Rock’n’Roll in the 1980s.
Photograph: Ebet
Roberts/Redferns

22. In 2000. Photograph: Peter Pakvis/Redferns

23. Little Richard, Chuck Berry and Bo Diddley in 2002. L. COHEN

24. Photograph: Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images

25. Chuck Berry & Little Richard during the filming of Hail, Hail Rock N Roll. Los Angeles California. Fall, 1986

26. Bruce Springsteen and Chuck Berry during a performance in 1995. STRINGER REUTERS

27. WALTER BIERI EFE

28. Chuck Berry, 1959 Cadillac

29. JAMES A. FINLEY AP

30. The artist was one of the founders of
rock thanks to the Maybellene
theme, released in 1955. In fact, in
his biography of the Rock Hall of
Fame, it reads: "After Elvis Presley,
only Chuck Berry has had more
influence on Time to shape and
develop rock & roll ". JESSICA
RINALDI REUTERS

32. END19-MARZO-2017