Chuck Berry Rock’n’Roll legend dies

Chuck Berry died aged 90, was the man who defied Rock’n’Roll and it’s first guitar poet, who helped to define the music, by fusing distinctive lyrics with tunes specially made for 19503 US teen consumerism.

Born Charles Edward Anderson Berry on Oct 18, 1926, in St. Louis, he grew up in a middle-class neighbourhood there. He spent three years in reform school after a spree of car thefts and armed robbery. He received a degree in hair dressing and cosmetology and worked as a beautician, married Themetta Suggs in 1958 and survived by four children, Ingrid Berry, Melody Eskridge, Aloha Is Leigh Berry and Charles Berry Jr.

The St. Charles County Police Department in Missouri confirmed his death on its Facebook page. He died at his home near Wentzville, Mo., 45 miles from St. Louis.

He began life as country musician starting a race between ford and Cadillac told from Ford-owner’s viewpoint, “As I was motorvatin’ over the hill/ I saw Maybellene in a Coup de Ville…”.

His songs included Havana Moon (1956) lovers lost opportunity, Memphis, Tennessee (1959) which explains pain of divorce, You Never Can Tell (1864) smiles at newlyweds.

His first guitar was a second-hand Spanish acoustic working at east St Louis Cliubs in the Pianist Johnnie Johnson;s Trio later renamed Chuck Berry Combo, influenced by Charlie Christian, Tampa Red and Nat Kind Cole,

His popular anthems included Roll Over Beethoven, Too Much Monkey Business, Oh Baby Doll, Bye Bye Johnny,   Brown Eyed Handsome Man, You Can’t Catch Me,The Promised Land, Rock & Roll Music, Sweet Little Sixteen,