Biography of Chuck Berry

The invention of rock

October 18, 1926 Charles Edward Anderson Berry, or simply Chuck Berry was born in Saint Louis, Missouri, Usa, on 18 October, 1926. Singer and composer, one of the first rock guitarists of all time, contends--and probably always will contend-with Elvis Presley, the record for having invented or at least brought success, the most famous twentieth-century genre: rock and roll. For sure Chuck Berry was the first to have used the pentatonic scale in rock solos, the so-called "double-cut", carrying his instrument, the guitar, to compete when not just to Excel on the voice, until the 50 considered the main thing of any band and in any musical genre. According to the renowned magazine "Rolling Stones" is in fifth place in the list of the hundred greatest guitarists in rock history. Early life of Chuck are those commonly, especially for those black guys who, in the years ' 40, must struggle against racial prejudices and, above all, against the arrogance of the white ruling class. Is a turbulent, with a strong tendency to commit a crime. Passing years in Juvie, during adolescence, are certainly not few. Fourth son of a family of six children, he makes the bones in the neighborhood "The Villas". His father is a deacon of the Baptist Church and is being done as a business owner, giving however the large family some moderately, especially in comparison with many other families of color of the United States, in those years, in great distress. Little Chuck falls in love with the blues guitar and soon, performing in front of an audience since way back in 1941, when is little more than a teenager, at the Sumner High School. By now though, for three years, the young musician attends the so-called bad companies, so that in 1944, while still a student, he was arrested and jailed for armed robbery, along with his gang. The disappointment for the family is strong and the young man is sent to Algoa, in reform school near Jefferson City, Missouri. While in detention he knows other musicians, form a vocal Quartet and is training as a boxer. In short he guesses that music may be his only way to stand out and stay away from certain situations. At the age of twenty-one years, once out of jail, Chuck Berry married Themetta "Toddy" Suggs his fiancee, exactly on 28 October 1948. Two years later comes the first daughter, Darlin Ingrid Berry, born on 3 October 1950. During this period, while not abandoning ever music, future guitarist is being done with different jobs, as well as being janitor in St. Louis as a labourer, Concierge and more. In the same year that his daughter is born, the family Berry manages to buy a small apartment in Whittier Street (later declared historical building just for hosting the idol rock during those years). Before 1955, fateful year for him musically, Berry thinking about music as his second work, playing with various groups, preferring the blues but not forgetting even the country, music of whites. In 1953 he knows a certain notoriety in the wake of the pianist Johnnie Johnson, beginning a long association. To make a change in his career is the great bluesman Muddy Waters, who makes his name to Leonard Chess, of Chess Records in Chicago. In May 1955 Berry has a job done and finished, all blues, but they do not care that much the owner of the label. These, however, is surprised by a kind of joke recorded by Berry and companions, a remake of an old classic country & western to Bob Wills, entitled "Ida Red" and turned into "Ida May." The guitarist and singer is persuaded to hack back the track, May 21, 1955, becomes "Maybellene". With him there are the pianist Johnnie Johnson, Jerome Green at maracas, Jasper Thomas on drums and bassist and blues singer Willie Dixon. The song that year sells a million copies and Chuck Berry and its port topped the American charts. The song in question, according to many, marks perhaps the true beginning of the genre "Rock and Roll", the result of mixture between rhythm and blues and country music. From this year, 1955, until 1958, Berry realizes all his masterpieces, writing an important, if not crucial, in rock history and especially of rock and roll. The now legendary songs see the light, like "Roll Over Beethoven", "Thirty Days", "You can't Catch Me", "School Day", "Johnny b. Goode", "Rock and Roll Music". To give a setback to his career as a musician are directioners is once again a lawsuit, which affects not just on the popular imagination. In 1959 the author of the famous "Johnny b. Goode" and always loved, played by the greatest of all time and a soundtrack of hit films, he was arrested for having sex with an underage girl: a 14-year-old employee at one of its premises. The condemnation initially is five thousand dollar fine and five years in prison. However, two years later, appeal in 1961, Berry gets a reduced sentence to three years ' imprisonment. Back in 1963, the black musician struggling to get back in the game that matters. Partly it is the new band of the so-called British invasion to rescue him, bringing back his name and many of his best songs. Groups like the Rolling Stones, the Beatles, the Beach Boys the pay due, reworking his best singles. John Lennon said: "heis one of the greatest of all time. I've said this many times, but it's the first real poet rock.". Until 1965 Chuck Berry living annuity, publishing a total of eight individual interesting, but not at the same level as the previous ones. By 1969 publishes five discs for Mercury, including a live at Fillmore, but without getting much attention from the public and by professionals. Is again the Chess Records to bring him luck. In 1972 for his old House will affect a new live version of his old song "My Ding-a-Ling". The song, surprising the same guitar player, leaps to the top of the charts. After this last moment of glory, Berry continues to perform live until 1979, when day 1 June is called to perform at the White House, in front of President Jimmy Carter. Meanwhile, two other public records, not particularly exciting: "Chuck Berry", 1975, and 1979 's "Rock It". Also in 1979 the American artist suffers another four months in prison, plus a substantial number of hours in the social services, this time because of a conviction for tax evasion. 80 years on, despite all the vicissitudes that concern him, Berry gets back into sixth and is dedicated with all over himself to live concerts, making a hundred every year and throughout the Decade. In 1986 Taylor Hackford shooting a documentary about him, titled "Hail! Hail! Rock 'n' Roll, "and focused on the celebratory festival done in her honor, for his 60th birthday. For the occasion, to pay Berry, there are the best ever: from Keith Richards to Eric Clapton, to Etta James, Julian Lennon, Robert Cray and Linda Ronstadt. At the end of 1990 the artist talking about himself and yet for reasons not related to his music. Have to pay more than a million dollars to 59 women who accuse him of having installed a camera in the bathroom of a famous restaurant in Missouri in order to spy on them at moments less opportune. During the search, are found at his home that undergoes video with recorded video as well as compromising, from his local, among which would appear even a minor, even sixty grams of marijuana. Berry bargains and gets along with two years probation and five thousand dollar fine. Ten years later, in 2000, is his former pianist Johnnie Johnson to sue him in court for allegedly missed credits received regarding songs like "No particular place to go", "Sweet little sixteen" and "Roll over Beethoven", which claims to be the coauthor. But this time the guitarist has leverage over his former pianist. In the following years and despite his age, Chuck Berry continues his performances in St. Louis without sacrificing even the European tours, like the one started in 2008, which brought him everywhere and even with good success.
Article contributed by the team of collaborators.