Chuck Berry, the Father of Rock and Roll, died of natural causes on Saturday, March 18, 2017.
Born Charles Edward Anderson Berry on Oct. 18, 1926, Chuck Berry began learning to play guitar in the 1940s and by 1952 was playing professionally in St. Louis clubs. He eventually joined the St. John’s Trio, where he created a unique sound by blending elements of blues and country music, thus giving birth to rock and roll. His first recorded song, “Maybelline,” landed at No. 1 on Billboards R&B charts, and in 1968, he became the first musician to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Berry’s music was launched into space on one of NASA’s golden records, which is designed to communicate our world’s story to extraterrestrials.
This Atlanta Black Star video highlights rock and roll pioneer Chuck Berry’s legendary achievements.
