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Chuck Berry is one of the most iconic and pioneering rock musicians of all time. He has just turned 90 and instead of taking things easy, has announced a new studio album.
The album entitled simply ‘Chuck’ will be the living legends first studio release since 1979’s ‘Rock It’ release.
He may well have decided to sit back and enjoy retirement, but Berry went back into the studio for one reason and one reason only. He wanted to dedicate this album to his wife of 68 years Themetta.
He is said to have told her ‘I am getting old darling. I have worked on this (LP) for a long time, now I get to hang up my shoes.’
Another point of note is that the 90 year old has not only performed on the album, but wrote all of the songs and he even produced it as well.
The band features include his son Charles Berry Jr. , daughter Ingrid Berry, Jimmy Marsala, Robert Lohr and Keith Robinson.
Born in 1926 the US singer/songwriter and guitarist took the world by storm with songs such as ‘Roll Over Beethoven’, ‘Maybellene’, ‘Rock and Roll Music’ and the song Michael J. Fox played along to in 1980’s hit film Back To The Future ‘Johnny B. Goode’.
The artist became known for his distinctive style and take on rock and roll music. His guitar solos and showmanship made him stand out as a star and he became a major influence on every rocker to come along since.
He became one of the most wanted live performers in the world during his heyday and became a firmly established music icon and had numerous TV appearances, movie spots and even established his own nightclub in St. Louis.
But the man did have his own personal issues and has even spent years behind bars for offences that we do not need to mention here. Let’s just say he has had a very colourful backstory to his 90 years.
Berry was one of the first people to be inducted into the Rock and Roll hall of fame (1986). He has also been included in various publications lists of the top artists of all time and has three songs in the Rock and Roll Hall of fame’s ‘500 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll’ feature’.
Those songs were ‘Johnny B. Goode’, Maybellene’ and ‘Rock and Roll Music’.
This new album will maybe see the veteran rock and roller sign off his career on a well-deserved high.
