Chuck Berry & The Rolling Stones

Book excerpt: Chuck Berry, born Charles Edward Anderson Berry on October 18th, 1926, in St. Louis, Missouri, U.S., was a singer, songwriter, musician, and one of the pioneers of rock and roll music. With songs including "Maybellene" (1955), "Roll Over Beethoven" (1956), "Rock and Roll Music" (1957) and "Johnny B. Goode" (1958), Berry refined and developed rhythm and blues into the major elements that made rock and roll distinctive. Writing lyrics that focused on teen life and consumerism, and developing a musical style that included guitar solos and showmanship, Berry was a major influence on subsequent rock music.