Chuck Berry: the 100 most inspirational musicians of all time
Singer, songwriter, and guitarist Chuck Berry (born Charles Edward Anderson Berry, b. Oct. 18, 1926, St. Louis, Mo., U.S.) was one of the most popular and influential performers in rhythm-and-blues and rock-and-roll music in the 1950s, ’60s, and ’70s.
Raised in a working-class African American neighborhood on the north side of the highly segregated city of St. Louis, Berry grew up in a family proud of its African- American and Native American ancestry. He gained early exposure to music through his family’s participation in the choir of the Antioch Baptist Church, through the blues and country western music he heard on the radio, and through music classes, especially at Sumner High School. Berry was still attending high school when he was sent to serve three years for armed robbery at a Missouri prison for young offenders. After his release and return to St. Louis, he worked at an auto plant, studied hairdressing, and played music in small nightclubs.
Chuck Berry traveled to Chicago in search of a recording contract; he signed with the Chess label, and in 1955 his first recording session produced “Maybellene”, which stayed on the pop charts for 11 weeks, cresting at number five. Berry followed this success with extensive tours and hit after hit, including “Roll Over Beethoven” (1956), “Rock and Roll Music” (1957), and “Johnny B. Goode” (1958). His vivid descriptions of consumer culture and teenage life, the distinctive sounds he coaxed from his guitar, and the rhythmic and melodic virtuosity of his piano player (Johnny Johnson) made Berry’s songs staples in the repertoire of almost every rock-and-roll band.
At the peak of his popularity, federal authorities prosecuted Berry for violating the Mann Act, alleging that he transported an underage female across state lines “for immoral purposes.” After two trials tainted by racist
overtones, Berry was convicted and remanded to prison. Upon his release he placed new hits on the pop charts, including “No Particular Place to Go” in 1964, at the height of the British Invasion, whose prime movers,
the Beatles and the Rolling Stones, were hugely influenced by Berry (as were the Beach Boys).
In 1972 Berry achieved his first number one hit, “My Ding-A-Ling.” Although he recorded more sporadically in the 1970s and ’80s, he continued to appear in concert, most often performing with backing bands comprising local musicians. Berry’s public visibility increased in 1987 with the publication of his book Chuck Berry: The Autobiography and the release of the documentary film Hail! Hail! Rock ‘n’ Roll, featuring footage from his 60th birthday concert and guest appearances by Keith Richards and Bruce Springsteen.
Chuck Berry is undeniably one of the most influential figures in the history of rock music. In helping to create rock and roll from the crucible of rhythm and blues, he combined clever lyrics, distinctive guitar sounds, boogie-woogie rhythms, precise diction, an astounding stage show, and
musical devices characteristic of country western music and the blues in his many best-selling single records and albums.
A distinctive if not technically dazzling guitarist, Berry used electronic effects to replicate the ringing sounds of bottleneck blues guitarists in his recordings. He drew upon a broad range of musical genres in his compositions, displaying an especially strong interest in Caribbean music on “Havana Moon” (1957) and “Man and the Donkey” (1963), among others. Influenced by a wide variety of artists—including guitar players Carl Hogan, Charlie Christian, and T-Bone Walker and vocalists Nat King Cole, Louis Jordan, and Charles Brown—Berry played a major role in broadening the appeal of rhythm-and-blues music during the 1950s. He fashioned his lyrics to appeal to the growing teenage market by presenting vivid and humorous descriptions of high-school life, teen dances, and consumer culture. Many popular-music performers have recorded Berry’s songs.
An appropriate tribute to Berry’s centrality to rock and roll came when his song “Johnny B. Goode” was among the pieces of music placed on a copper phonograph record attached to the side of the Voyager 1 satellite, hurtling through outer space, in order to give distant or future civilizations a chance to acquaint themselves with the culture of the planet Earth in the 20th century. In 1984, he was presented with a Grammy Award for lifetime
achievement. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1986.
Sheet Music Download.
Chuck Berry Greatest Hits – Chuck Berry Best Blue Songs – Chuck Berry All Songs Full Album 2021
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Artist or Composer / Score name | Cover | List of Contents |
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Bill Evans Blue In Green | ||
Bill Evans Interplay (Piano Solo Sheet Music Transcription) | Bill Evans Interplay (Piano Solo Sheet Music Transcription) | |
Bill Evans Laurie | ||
Bill Evans Like Someone In Love Transcription From The Album Time Remembered (Sheet Music) | Bill Evans Like Someone In Love Transcription From The Album Time Remembered (Sheet Music) | |
Bill Evans Waltz For Debby (Complete Version) | ||
Bill Evans When I Fall In Love Victor Young | ||
Bill Evans – Time Remembered 14 Piano transcriptions | Bill Evans – Time Remembered 14 Piano transcriptions | |
Bill Evans – Alfie (Piano transcription) | ||
Bill Evans – Alice in Wonderland | Bill Evans – Alice in Wonderland | |
Bill Evans – Autumn Leaves | Bill Evans – Autunm Leaves | |
Bill Evans – Autunm Leaves (As Recorded by) | Bill Evans – Autunm Leaves (As Recorded by) | |
Bill Evans – B minor Waltz (for Ellaine) | ||
Bill Evans – Blue in Green (Piano transcription) | ||
Bill Evans – Danny Boy, by Frederic Weatherly (Bill Evans Jazz version) | Bill Evans – Danny Boy, by Frederic Weatherly (Bill Evans Jazz version) | |
Bill Evans – Emily Bass sheet music | ||
Bill Evans – Ev’rything I Love (sheet music transcription) | ||
Bill Evans – Everything Happens to me – a musical biography by Keith Shadwick (Book) | ||
Bill Evans – Gone with the wind transcription | ||
Bill Evans – In a Sentimental Mood – Piano solo transcription | ||
Bill Evans – Midnight Mood by Joe Zawinul | Bill Evans – Midnight Mood by Joe Zawinul | |
Bill Evans – My Foolish Heart by Victor Young | Bill Evans – My Foolish Heart by Victor Young | |
Bill Evans – My Funny Valentine (Transcription) Jazz Standard sheet music | ||
Bill Evans – Never Let Me Go (Piano transcription) | ||
Bill Evans – Never Let Me Go (Piano Transcription) (Musescore File).mscz | ||
Bill Evans – One for Helen | Bill Evans – One for Helen | |
Bill Evans – Only Child transcription | ||
Bill Evans – Piano Solos | Bill Evans Piano solos | |
Bill Evans – Rare Transcriptions 3 | Bill Evans – Rare transcriptions vol. 3 sheet music | |
Bill Evans – Rare transcriptions vol.1 | Bill Evans – Rare transcriptions vol.1 sheet music | |
Bill Evans – Rare transcriptions vol.2 | Bill Evans – Rare transcriptions vol. 2 sheet music | |
Bill Evans – Remembering The Rain.mscz | ||
Bill Evans – Santa Claus Is Coming To Town | ||
Bill Evans – Signature Licks – Piano Transcriptions | Bill Evans – Signature Licks – Hal Leonard – Piano Transcriptions | |
Bill Evans – Skating in Central Park (Solo) from Undercurrent with Jim Hall | ||
Bill Evans – Someday My Prince Will Come from Portrait in Jazz sheet music Transcription | Bill Evans – Someday My Prince Will Come from Portrait in Jazz sheet music Transcription | |
Bill Evans – Star Eyes (melody transcription) from The Universal Mind of Bill Evans | Bill Evans – Star Eyes (melody transcription) from The Universal Mind of Bill Evans (first page sample) | |
Bill Evans – Star Eyes (melody transcription) from The Universal Mind of Bill Evans.mscz | ||
Bill Evans – The 70’S Solo Piano | Bill Evans – The 70’S, Solo Piano | |
Bill Evans – The Artistry Of (Songs And Improvisation Transcription) | Bill Evans sheet music | |
Bill Evans – The Dolphin piano solo transcription | Bill Evans – The Dolphin piano solo transcription | |
Bill Evans – The Dolphin Transcription sheet music | ||
Bill Evans – The Last Compositions | Bill Evans – The Last Compositions | |
Bill Evans – Theme From Mash | ||
Bill Evans – Turn out the Stars | Bill Evans – Turn out the Stars_compressed | |
Bill Evans – Turn Out The Stars – Bill Evans (Transcription) Jazz Standard sheet music (from Some Other Time) | Bill Evans – Turn Out The Stars – Bill Evans (Transcription) Jazz Standard sheet music | |
Bill Evans – Very Early | ||
Bill Evans – Very Early Live In Paris [1972] solo transciption | ||
Bill Evans – We will meet again from The 70’S Solo Piano | ||
Bill Evans (1969) Emily sheet music transcription | ||
Bill Evans 4 New Versions Of Bill Evans Tunes Taken From His Recordings | Bill Evans_4 New Versions Of Bill Evans Tunes Taken From His Recordings | |
Bill Evans And The Craft Of Improvisation | Bill Evans craft improvisation | |
Bill Evans Autumn Leaves (as played in Portrait in Jazz) complete transcription | Bill Evans Autumn Leaves (as played in Portrait in Jazz) complete transcription | |
Bill Evans But Beautiful transcription | Bill Evans But Beautiful transcription | |
Bill Evans Collection For Solo Guitar | Bill Evans Collection For Solo Guitar | |
Bill Evans Emily | ||
Bill Evans Fake Book (60 original transcriptions) | Bill Evans Fake Book (60 original transc.) — Bill Evans Fake Book | |
Bill Evans Five | ||
Bill Evans How My Heart Sings – as played by Bill Evans | Bill Evans How My Heart Sings – as played by Bill Evans | |
Bill Evans How My Heart Sings By Pettinger Peter (Book) | ||
Bill Evans Jazz Piano Transcriptions | Bill Evans Jazz Piano Transcriptions | |
Bill Evans Jim Hall – Romain from Undercurrent | ||
Bill Evans Like Someone In Love sheet music transcription (1962 Sessions) | Bill Evans April Like Someone In Love sheet music transcription (1962 Sessions) | |
Bill Evans Midnightmood | ||
Bill Evans Nardis (Bill Evans Trio) | ||
Bill Evans Oleo (Transcription) | Bill Evans Oleo | |
Bill Evans Omnibook For Piano Transcribed exactly from his recorded solos | Bill Evans Omnibook For Piano Transcribed exactly from his recorded solos | |
Bill Evans Perfect Piano Score | Bill Evans Perfect Piano Score | |
Bill Evans Piano Interpretations | Bill Evans-Piano Interpretations sheet music library | |
Bill Evans Piano Solo Transcriptions | Bill Evans Piano Solo Transcriptions | |
BILL EVANS Plays – Original Compositions Solo Transcriptions | Bill Evans Plays | |
Bill Evans Plays Duke Ellington Reflections In D | ||
Bill Evans Plays Standards | Bill Evans Plays Standards sheet music | |
Bill Evans Quiet Now (Jazz Standard) Transcription | ||
Bill Evans Santa Claus Is Coming To Town Transcription | ||
Bill Evans Solo Sessions Vol 1 Everything Happens To Me | ||
Bill Evans Solo Sessions Vol 2 What Kind Of Fool Am I | ||
Bill Evans Solo Sessions Vol1 April In Paris | ||
Bill Evans Songbook Jazz Piano Solos Series, Volume 19 (Bill Evans) | Bill Evans Songbook Jazz Piano Solos Series, Volume 19 (Bill Evans) | |
Bill Evans Stella By Starlight Jazz Standard The Bill Evans Trio Vol 2 Transcription | ||
Bill Evans Tenderly Everybody Digs | Bill Evans Tenderly Everybody Digs | |
Bill Evans The Bill Evans Trio Vol 1 | bill-evans-trio-Volume 1 1956-1961-transcriptions sheet music | |
Bill Evans The Bill Evans Trio Vol 2 | Bill Evans The Bill Evans Trio Vol 2 | |
Bill Evans The Bill Evans Trio Vol 3 | Bill Evans The Bill Evans Trio Vol 2 | |
Bill Evans The Mastery Of Bill Evans Artist Piano Transcriptions (a close look at two classic compositions: Waltz for Debby and Very Early) by Pascal Wetzel | Bill Evans The Mastery Of Bill Evans Artist Piano Transcriptions | |
Bill Evans Time Remembered (lead sheet) | Bill Evans Time Remembered | |
Bill Evans Transcription sheet music of April, 1962 Sessions Danny Boy | ||
Bill Evans Transcription sheet music of April, 1962 Sessions Easy To Love | ||
Bill Evans Transcription sheet music of April, 1962 Sessions In Your Own Sweet Way | ||
Bill Evans Transcription sheet music of April, 1962 Sessions Like Someone In Love | ||
Bill Evans Transcription sheet music of Everybody Digs Peace Piece | ||
Bill Evans Transcription sheet music of New Jazz Conceptions Waltz For Debby | ||
Bill Evans Transcription sheet music of Solo Sessions Vol.1 Medley My Favourite Things, Easy To Love, Baubles, Bangles And Beads | ||
Bill Evans Transcription sheet music of Solo Sessions Vol.2 I Loves You, Porgy (Complete Transcription) | ||
Bill Evans Transcription sheet music of Solo Sessions Vol.2 Love Is Here To Stay | ||
Bill Evans Transcription sheet music of Solo Sessions Vol.2 Medley Autumn In New York, How About You | ||
Bill Evans Transcription sheet music of Solo Sessions Vol.2 Santa Claus Is Coming To Town | ||
Bill Evans Transcriptions (Own Tunes and tunes by Earl Zindars) | Bill Evans Transcriptions (Own Tunes and tunes by Earl Zindars) | |
Bill Evans Trio – Jazz improvisation (Transcriptions) | Bill Evans Trio – Jazz improvisation (Transcriptions) | |
Bill Evans Turn Out Star | ||
Bill Evans We Will Meet Again | ||
Bill Evans When I Fall In Love | ||
Bill Evans You Go to my Head Piano solo (Omnibook For Piano Transcribed exactly from his recorded solos) Haven Gillespie J. Fred Coots | Bill Evans You Go to my Head Piano solo (Omnibook For Piano Transcribed exactly from his recorded solos) Haven Gillespie J. Fred Coots | |
Bill Evans- Body And Soul Transcription | ||
Bill Frisell – St. Louis Blues Guitar Solo Transcription | Bill Frisell – St. Louis Blues Guitar Solo Transcription | |
Bill Frisell An Anthology | Bill Frisell An Anthology | |
Bill Frisell Guitar Artisrty | Bill Frisell Guitar Artisrty | |
Bill Gaither Homecoming Souvenir Songbook | ||
Bill Haley Rock Around The Clock Bill Haley & The Comets Easy Piano Solo | ||
Bill Haley – Rock Around The Clock | ||
Bill Holman Front Runner Full Band Score | ||
Bill Holman Kingfish Full band score | ||
Bill Holman Malaga – Full Big Band | ||
Bill Piburn plays Antonio Carlos Jobim – Jobim (Guitar with TABS) | Bill Piburn plays Antonio Carlos Jobim – Jobim (Guitar with TABS) | |
Bill Withers – Ain’t No Sunshine | ||
Bill Withers – Lean On Me | ||
Bill Withers Ain’t No Sunshine Piano Vocal Guitar | ||
Bill Withers Lovely Day | ||
Bill Withers Lovely Day Piano Vocal Guitar chords | ||
Billie Eilish Lovely With Khalid | ||
Billie Eilish Wish You Were Gay Lu |