Chuck Berry 1926-2017 Rock-n-Roll Pioneer

CHUCK BERRY (October 18, 1926 - March 18, 2017) was an American guitarist, singer and songwriter and is one of the pioneers of rock and roll music. With iconic 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. PICTURED: Aug 22, 1997 - Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, U.S. - Rock-n-Roll pioneer CHUCK BERRY performs at the Palace Theater.