Passed away at 90, would popular music - as we know it –
even exist without Chuck Berry?
By: Ringo Bones
March 18, 2017 would probably be remembered as the saddest
day for Rock n’ Roll as one of the music’s founding fathers passed away aged
90. Born Charles Edward Anderson Berry, is better known to the music world as
Chuck Berry was born in October 18, 1926 and became well known back in the
1950s as one of the pioneers of Rock n’ Roll music. Even though he is no longer
the “undisputed king of Rock n’ Roll”, Chuck Berry, nevertheless managed to
make early African American Blues, R&B and Rock n’ Roll music not only
accessible to white European Americans but also to rock music enthusiasts from
the rest of the world. Not only that, he also regularly been playing live and
touring since the mid 1950s well into his 80s.
Chuck Berry’s iconic hit Johnny B. Goode was introduced to a
new generation of fans during the mid 1980s when accidental time-traveler Marty
McFly (played by actor Michael J. Fox) played his own rendition of Johnny B.
Goode in the movie Back to the Future. Another version of Johnny B. Goode by
the heavy metal band Judas Priest also managed to introduce young 1980s era metal-heads
to the musical genius of Chuck Berry. And both versions were probably
instrumental in the induction of Chuck Berry into the Rock N’ Roll Hall of Fame
back in 1986. Before he passed away, Chuck Berry was currently working on a new
album after his previous one was released 35 years ago.
