Largely considered the godfather of rock & roll, guitar legend Chuck Berry revolutionized blues music and paved the way for an era of rock & roll that would include the Beatles, the Rolling Stones and Led Zeppelin. Raised in St. Louis, Missouri, Berry spent much of his youth mimicking the work of blues guitar masters like T-Bone Walker and Muddy Waters. What eventually distinguished Berry from his blues progenitors was his willingness to embrace the songs structures and lyrical styles of R&B and country artists around him. Berry is also responsible for integrating a certain commercial sensibility into his lyrics by referencing youth culture in a way that foreshadows current pop music's preoccupation with conspicuous consumption. The overt display of one's guitar skills in the form of guitar solos is also something Berry popularized and passed along to the "rock stars" that would follow him. Berry has an extensive discography and has collaborated with numerous musicians over his lifespan. Hit Chuck Berry songs include, "Johnny B. Goode," "Roll Over Beethoven," and "Maybellene."
