Chuck Berry Biography

The title “father of rock n roll” was bestowed upon Chuck Berry as a gesture to recognize his many contributions to rock music industry. The word “legend” when describing musical talent can only be given to a few, Chuck Berry was one of the few. His musical thumbprint was idealized by some and imitated by many. Chuck Berry wrote, composed and performed some of Rock n Roll’s biggest hits. Mr. Feeney has declared that Chuck Berry is, “the father of rock n roll who duck walked his way into musical history.” By the same token others have expressed admirations about Chuck Berry: John Lennon said, “If you tried to give rock ‘n’ roll another name, you might call it ‘Chuck Berry’ ”; Jerry Lee Lewis’s mother said, “You and Elvis are good, son – but …show more content…
Berry was a pioneer for the sound of rock ‘n’ roll! The foundational sound of rock n roll was led by Chuck Berry. His musical talents were spoke about as having placed the “sound” in rock ‘n’ roll through rhythm and the feel of his songs that made them important to the development of rock. He also reported, where Presley revealed the power of the new music, Mr. Berry proclaimed it. He was the herald of rock ‘n’ roll: not just singing the music, but promoting it. Chuck Berry sang, “It’s got to be rock ‘n’ roll music, if you want to dance with me”, which means Chuck Berry himself understood his contribution to rock ‘n’ roll. The article went on to say that the Rolling Stones owed their existence to Mr. Berry. It was Richard’s spotting Mick Jagger carrying a copy of the album “One Dozen Berry’s” that led to their first meeting, and a cover version of Mr. Berry’s “Come On” was the band first single. Mark further said that the “rock” in rock ‘n’ roll was Berry’s distinctive double-string style of guitar playing, and his transposing the style of boogie-woogie piano to the guitar, helped him form the instrumental DNA of rock. The “roll” in my opinion is the “the duck-walk”. Demonstrated as a head/neck, arm, inline hips, positioned low with a smooth move forward. His musical accolades include being a recipient of the 1984 Grammy lifetime achievement award, Induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1986, a Kennedy Center honoree in 2000,which cited him as “one of the most …show more content…
When he sang his first album “Maybellene” grafts, country and western guitar licks onto a rhythm and blues classic”, written in his biography from the Rock n Roll hall of fame website. His voice is characterized as “not sounding quite white and not quite black”, said Mark Feeney. He also felt Chuck Berry purposely did not use certain instruments traditionally played by African Americans as melismas, slurs, and ornamentation. His crafted style of music went on to produce such hits during the 50’s: “Rock and Roll Music”, “Sweet Little Sixteen”, “Johnny B. Good”, “Roll over Beethoven”, “Little Queenie”, “Memphis, Back in the USA”, “You never can tell”, “Reelin and Rockin,” along with others were counted as rock n roll favorites. He endured both musical and racial challenges none of which stopped his desire to play rock n roll music. Artist such as the Rolling Stones, Buddy Holly, the Beatles, Jimi Hendrix, Linda Ronstadt, and many others recorded his songs. The Beach Boys had to acknowledge via lawsuit that Berry’s, “Sweet Little Sixteen” melody and rhythm sounded similarly to their song, “Surfin USA”. The lawsuit outcome resulted in Chuck Berry was awarded a songwriting credit. A song critic by the name of Robert Christgau described him as the “substance” of rock n roll one who, “taught George Harrison and Keith Richards to play guitar long before he met either, and his songs are still