Johnnie Johnson, a rock and roll pianist who often teamed up with Chuck Berry has died aged 80.

Johnson died at his home in St. Louis, he had been hospitalised a month ago for pneumonia and was also receiving dialysis for a kidney problem, reports Yahoo.

Johnson helped Berry compose a number of rock and roll hits, and Berry’s track ‘Johnny B. Goode’ was a tribute to Johnson.

In 2000 Johnson sued Berry for royalties and proper credit for more then 50 songs Johnson said the pair has jointly composed. The suit was dismissed in 2002 after a judge ruled that too much time had passed since the disputed songs were written.

The pianist also performed with the likes of Keith Richards, Eric Clapton and Bo Diddley and in 2001 was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Diddley has said: "It was so much fun to play with Johnnie. The world has lost a great man and a great musician.”