He was the original showman, bringing a new kind of music – rock and roll – to the masses with his own fusion of rhythm, blues and on-stage swagger.
Chuck Berry, one of the last great rock and rollers, passed away on March 18, aged 90, leaving an incredible musical legacy. But his amazing career, which featured hits such as Maybellene, Johnny B. Goode and Roll Over Beethoven, almost didn’t happen.
Born in Missouri in October 1926, Chuck was gifted with musical ability from the get-go. However, his brushes with the law and conviction for armed robbery led to a three-year stint in a reformatory.
Upon his release in 1947, he made a living as a janitor, factory worker and hairdresser, as well as playing his music in clubs and…
