7 Chuck Berry 7Missouri prison for young offenders. After his release
and return to St. Louis, he worked at an auto plant,
studied hairdressing, and played music in small night-
clubs. Berry traveled to Chicago in search of a recording
contract; he signed with the Chess label, and in 1955 his
first recording session produced “Maybellene”, which
stayed on the pop charts for 11 weeks, cresting at number
five. Berry followed this success with extensive tours
and hit after hit, including “Roll Over Beethoven”
(1956), “Rock and Roll Music” (1957), and “Johnny B.
Goode” (1958). His vivid descriptions of consumer cul-
ture and teenage life, the distinctive sounds he coaxed
from his guitar, and the rhythmic and melodic virtuos-
ity of his piano player (Johnny Johnson) made Berry’s
songs staples in the repertoire of almost every rock-and-
roll band.
At the peak of his popularity, federal authorities
prosecuted Berry for violating the Mann Act, alleging
that he transported an underage female across state lines
“for immoral purposes.” After two trials tainted by rac-
ist overtones, Berry was convicted and remanded to
prison. Upon his release he placed new hits on the pop
charts, including “No Particular Place to Go” in 1964,
at the height of the British Invasion, whose prime movers,
the Beatles and the Rolling Stones, were hugely influ-
enced by Berry (as were the Beach Boys). In 1972 Berry
achieved his first number one hit, “My Ding-A-Ling.”
Although he recorded more sporadically in the 1970s
and ’80s, he continued to appear in concert, most often
performing with backing bands comprising local musi-
cians. Berry’s public visibility increased in 1987 with the
publication of his book Chuck Berry: The Autobiography and
the release of the documentary film Hail! Hail! Rock ‘n’
Roll, featuring footage from his 60th birthday concert