Chuck Berry, Rock ‘N’ Roll Originator, Passes Away at 90

2017-03-20

Story by Charles Ken

Chuck Berry, a major force in rock ‘n’ roll, has passed away at 90

Rock ‘n’ roll originator Chuck Berry has passed away at the age of 90, reports the St. Charles County, Missouri police. The report did not list a cause of death.

A Saturday post on the police department’s Facebook page stated, “St. Charles County police responded to a medical emergency on Buckner Road at approximately 12:40 p.m. today (Saturday, March 18). Inside the home, first responders observed an unresponsive man and immediately administered lifesaving techniques. Unfortunately, the 90-year-old man could not be revived and was pronounced deceased at 1:26 p.m.”

The post continued, “The St. Charles County Police Department sadly confirms the death of Charles Edward Anderson Berry Sr., better known as legendary musician Chuck Berry. The family requests privacy during this time of bereavement.”

Berry, whose birth name was Charles Edward Anderson, was born on Oct. 18, 1926 in St. Louis, MO. He helped create the rock ‘n’ roll sound with 1950s rock standards, such as “Johnny B. Goode,” “Rock and Roll Music,” “Roll Over Beethoven” and “Maybellene.” He was a key influence for many rock ‘n’ roll bands to follow, everyone from the Rolling Stones to the Beatles.

“If you had tried to try and give rock and roll another name you might call it Chuck Berry,” John Lennon once of Berry.

Berry was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1986. He also was honored with a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 1984 and Sweden’s Polar Music Prize in 2014. He stayed active in the music world up until his death and had planned to release a new album this year, called “Chuck.”

Anne Erickson
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Posted by Anne Erickson | Music, Rock, Rock News