Chuck Berry

Induction Year: 1982


Birth Name: Charles Edward Anderson - Chuck Berry
Birth Date: October 18, 1926
Place of Birth: St. Louis, MO



Biography

"Everything I wrote about wasn't about me, but about the people listening."

Former Occupations:
Medical Ward Secretary

Education:
Grade School--Cottage Avenue Elementary School
High School--Sumner High School (from 1940-1944)
College--Poro College (graduated in 1952)



Discography / Career Highlights

Career Milestones:
1952 - formed the Chuck Berry Combo; performed in clubs in the St. Louis area
1955 - met blues artist Muddy Waters in Chicago, who arranged an audition for Berry with Chess Records
1955 - signed an exclusive long-term contract with Chess Records
1955 - performed at the Paramount Theater in Brooklyn, NY
1956 - released first single, "Maybellene"
1966 - signed with Mercury Records
1970 - returned to Chess Records
1987 - biographical concert film, "Hail! Hail! Rock 'N Roll", directed by Taylor Hackford, released
1993 - performed at President Bill Clinton's inauguration

Awards:
1955 - BMI\Pop Award\"Maybellene"
1955 - BMI\R&B Award\"Maybellene"
1955 - BMI\R&B Award\"Thirty Days"
1956 - BMI\R&B Award\"Too Much Monkey Business"
1957 - BMI\Pop Award\"School Day (Ring Ring Goes the Bell)"
1957 - BMI\R&B Award\"School Day (Ring Ring Goes the Bell)"
1958 - BMI\Pop Award\"Sweet Little Sixteen"
1958 - BMI\R&B Award\"Johnny B. Goode"
1963 - BMI\Pop Award\"Surfin USA"
1963 - BMI\Pop Award\"Memphis"
1963 - BMI\R&B Award\"Memphis"
1964 - BMI\Pop Award\"Memphis"
1964 - BMI\R&B Award\"Nadine"
1964 - BMI\R&B Award\"No Particular Place to Go"
1964 - BMI\Pop Award\"No Particular Place to Go"
1968 - BMI\R&B Award\"Sweet Little Sixteen"
1971 - BMI\R&B Award\"Brown Eyed Handsome Man"
1971 - BMI\R&B Award\"Johnny B. Goode"
1972 - BMI\R&B Award\"The Promised Land"
1972 - BMI\Country Award\"The Promised Land"
1974 - BMI\Country Award\"Too Much Monkey Business"
1975 - BMI\Country Award\"The Promised Land"
1975 - BMI\Pop Award\"The Promised Land"
1976 - BMI\Pop Award\"Rock and Roll Music"
1978 - BMI\Pop Award\"Back in the USA"
1978 - BMI\Country Award\"You Can Never Tell (C'est La Vie)"
1979 - BMI\Country Award\"Maybellene"
1984 - Grammy\Lifetime Achievement Award
1985 - Blues Foundation Hall of Fame induction
1986 - Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction
1986 - National Academy of Popular Music\Songwriters' Hall of Fame induction
1988 - Grammy\Hall of Fame Award\"Maybellene"
1990 - Grammy\Hall of Fame Award\"Roll Over Beethoven"

Catalog Highlights:
"Roll Over Beethoven" - Artists: Chuck Berry

"Johnny B. Goode" - Artists: Chuck Berry

"Maybellene" - Artists: Chuck Berry

"No Money Down" - Artists: Chuck Berry

"Rock and Roll Music" - Artists: Chuck Berry

"Sweet Little Sixteen" - Artists: Chuck Berry

"The Promised Land" - Artists: Chuck Berry

"School Day (Ring Ring Goes the Bell) " - Artists: Chuck Berry

"Too Much Monkey Business" - Artists: Chuck Berry

"Memphis" - Artists: Chuck Berry

"Little Queenie" - Artists: Chuck Berry

"No Particular Place to Go" - Artists: Chuck Berry

"You Can Never Tell ("C'est la Vie") "

"Surfin USA"

"Back in the USA"

"Brown Eyed Handsome Man"

"Nadine"

"Thirty Days"

"Reelin' and Rockin' "

"Let It Rock"

"My Ding-a-Ling"

"Oh Baby Doll"

"Bring Another Drink"

"I Really Do Love You"

"Goodnight, Well It's Time To Go"

"Carol"

"Sweet Little Rock and Roller"

"Good Lovin' Woman"

"C.C. Rider"

"Almost Grown"

"Back to Memphis"


Comments:
Once studied cosmetology

Finished high school in prison

Published his autobiography in 1987

Appeared in the following feature films: "Rock Rock Rock" (1957), "Mr. Rock 'N Roll" (1957), "Go Johnny Go" (1959), and "Jazz On a Summer's Day" (live concert show) (1960) 

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