Charles Edward Anderson "Chuck" Berry (born October 18, 1926) is an American guitarist, singer and songwriter and is one of the pioneers of rock and roll music. With songs such as "Maybellene" (1955), "Roll Over Beethoven" (1956), "Rock and Roll Music" (1957) and "Johnny B. Goode" (1958), Berry refined and developed rhythm and blues into the major elements that made rock and roll distinctive, with lyrics focusing on teen life and consumerism and music featuring guitar solos and showmanship that were a major influence on subsequent rock music.
A pioneer of rock and roll, Berry was a significant influence on the development of both the music and the attitude associated with the rock music lifestyle. He refined and developed rhythm and blues into the major elements that made rock and roll distinctive, with lyrics successfully aimed to appeal to the early teenage market by using graphic and humorous descriptions of teen dances, fast cars, high school life, and consumer culture, and utilizing guitar solos and showmanship that would be a major influence on subsequent rock music.
His records are a rich storehouse of the essential lyrical, showmanship and musical components of rock and roll. In addition to the Beatles and the Rolling Stones, a large number of significant popular-music performers have recorded Berry's songs. Though not technically accomplished, his guitar style is distinctive—he incorporated electronic effects to mimic the sound of bottleneck blues guitarists and drew on the influence of guitar players such as Carl Hogan, and T-Bone Walker to produce a clear and exciting sound that many later guitarists would acknowledge as an influence in their own style.
Berry's showmanship has been influential on other rock guitarists, particularly his one-legged hop routine, and the "duck walk", which he first used as a child when he walked "stooping with full-bended knees, but with my back and head vertical" under a table to retrieve a ball and his family found it entertaining; he used it when "performing in New York for the first time and some journalist branded it the duck walk."
Paul Weller onstage with The Jam at the Rainbow Theatre, London in 1979
Debbie Harry captured backstage at a Blondie gig in Phildelphia in 1978
Frank Sinatra walking over a London bridge in 1967 during a break from his filming of 'The Naked Runner'
Limited edition of Morgan Howell's original painting of the cover of The Beatles' 'Yesterday' vinyl single
David Bowie was a leading figure in popular music for over five decades & regarded by critics & musicians as a true innovator.
Queen are a British rock band credited with making significant contributions to such genres as hard rock & heavy metal, among others.
Noel Gallagher is regarded as one of the UK’s most respected musicians and the mastermind behind Britpop super group Oasis.
Paul Weller is an English singer, songwriter and musician. Weller achieved fame with the punk rock/new wave/mod revival band The Jam.
Curated collection of authentic, signed limited edition fine art prints by legendary rock music photographer, Mck Rock
Jill Furmanovsky is one of the greatest ever rock & roll photographers with a huge archive of iconic shots of the world's best music artists
Here are the very latest prints we have added to our collection. We hope you love them as much as we do.
Barrie Wentzell is one of music's most respected photographers his portfolio includes many rock'n'roll greats. Here is our great collection
