STL Black History: Chuck Berry

Chuck Berry was born here in St. Louis. Raised on the north side he attended Sumner High. Chuck left St. Louis with his guitar and a sound that would soon change the world. At the time they were not sure how to classify his music, so it was put in a category of its own, Rock & Roll. Early on several of his records were stolen by white artist to sell to the white crowd. Chuck and his unique sound soon were able to break color barriers and he was playing to a mixed audience. He was arrested at the height of his career and watched as Elvis Presley, The Beetles, and The Rolling Stones became mega stars by emulating his style. He was one of the first musicians inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Although Berry's life has been somewhat plagued by legal problems, his continuing performances in front of a sold out audience shows that his gift of music is one of a kind.