Charles Edward Anderson Berry, a.k.a Chuck Berry, was regarded as one of the founders of rock ‘n’ roll.
He died at the age of 90 on Saturday at his Missouri home.
Police in St. Charles County, outside St. Louis, said they were called to Berry’s home by a caretaker and found him unresponsive. Efforts to revive him failed and he was pronounced dead at 1:26 p.m. local time.
Chuck Berry was present at rock ‘n’ roll’s infancy in the 1950s and emerged as its first star guitarist and songwriter – a nearly 30-year-old black performer whose style electrified young white audiences and was emulated by white performers who came to dominate American popular music.
Although Elvis Presley was called the king of rock ‘n’ roll, that crown would have Berry’s head just fine too.
Berry hits such as “Johnny B. Goode,” “Roll Over Beethoven,” “Sweet Little Sixteen,” “Maybellene” and “Memphis” melded elements of blues, rockabilly and jazz into some of the most timeless pop songs of the 20th century.
In 1978, Saturday Night Live imagined the response of space aliens to finding the golden record on Voyager 1. #ChuckBerry pic.twitter.com/HIXbSrHJfi
— Corey S. Powell (@coreyspowell) March 19, 2017
“If you tried to give rock and roll another name, you might call it 'Chuck Berry'.” – John Lennon #ChuckBerry pic.twitter.com/j9lfqE53Ox
— ReinventMusic (@ktanaka13) March 19, 2017
The great #ChuckBerry is gone. A true musical pioneer, and what a life he led. Goodbye and thank you for the rocking good times.
— Bette Midler (@BetteMidler) March 19, 2017
A tribute to the passing of the one and only Chuck Berry. May he rest in peace. https://t.co/kENIIoZ33s #chuckberry
— Dan Rather (@DanRather) March 19, 2017
Bob Dylan on Chuck Berry. #ChuckBerry pic.twitter.com/EomcFxOFts
— Bob Dylan (@Bob41Dylan) March 18, 2017
