2. Chuck Berry
Chuck Berry is widely regarded as the “Father of Rock and Roll”. He was born in 1926 in St. Louis, Missouri. He began his musical career in the early 1950s when he started playing guitar and singing in local clubs. He signed with Chess Records in 1955 and released his first hit song, “Maybellene”, which was a reworking of a country song called “Ida Red”. He soon became one of the most popular and influential rock and roll artists with his clever lyrics, catchy tunes, and energetic guitar playing.
Some of his most famous songs include “Roll Over Beethoven”, “Johnny B. Goode”, “Rock and Roll Music”, “Sweet Little Sixteen”, “School Days”, “Memphis, Tennessee”, and “You Never Can Tell”. He also appeared in several movies, such as Rock Rock Rock (1956), Go Johnny Go (1959), Hail! Hail! Rock ‘n’ Roll (1987), and Cadillac Records (2008). He sold over 30 million records worldwide and won a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. He died in 2017 at the age of 90.
Chuck Berry is considered to be one of the most influential and innovative figures in the history of rock music. He pioneered the use of electric guitar as the main instrument of rock music. He also developed a distinctive style of guitar playing that combined rhythm and lead parts, using techniques such as bends, slides, hammer-ons, pull-offs, double stops, chords, riffs, solos, and more. He also wrote songs that captured the spirit and experiences of teenage life in America. He influenced many other artists, such as The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, The Beach Boys, Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, and AC/DC.