Chuck Berry - Written by Matthew Gaydos

Chuck Berry’s Message to the Next Generation


Hi, I’m Charles Edward Anderson Berry or otherwise known as Chuck Berry.
People consider me one of the pioneers of rock and roll. I was born and raised in St.
Louis, Missouri. There I discovered blues in my teens. I began to work to not only to
support my wife and child, but my parents also. But in the beginning of the 50’s I began
to play at clubs with a band for extra income. There I refined my showmanship and my
rhythm style. I was greatly influenced by my good friend, Ira Harris. But I then began to
be noticed because I started fusing R&B with country music. At first I was ridiculed and
called a “black hillbilly” but I didn’t care.


I started getting really good at playing music and I wanted to take it to the next
level. In 1955 I met Muddy Waters who suggested I see Chess Records and boy were
they impressed! There I recorded “Maybelline”, my first hit single. I then grew more and
more famous until I became a sensation. My message to you young people is that you can
start a revolution just by being yourself. That’s how I did it. I didn’t care about what
people said and look what I did. Famous musicians such as John Lennon and Angus
Young consider me their idols and all I did was do what I love. I even broke racial
barriers with my music and united people. I hope that this generation will unite and
forget racial differences to get amazing things done.