Rock'n/roll pioneer Chuck Berry has passed away at the age of 90. The St. Charles County Police Department in Missouri was called to the musician's house earlier today (March 18). Upon officers' arrival, Berry remained unresponsive and was pronounced dead at the scene.
UPDATE (3/20, 4 p.m. EDT): According to TMZ, Berry suffered a heart attack and his cause of death will be listed as "natural causes." No autopsy is planned.
The police confirmed Berry's death in a Facebook post:
Berry was born in St. Louis in 1926 and gave his first public performance in 1941, while still a student at Sumner High School. Shortly thereafter, he served time Intermediate Reformatory for Young Men at Algoa, where he formed a singing quartet. He was released on his 21st birthday in 1947, married Themetta "Toddy" Suggs and worked odd jobs until heading to Chicago in 1955 to record his first single, "Maybellene" for Chess Records.
Throughout the '50s, he popularized rock'n'roll music with subsequent hits like "Roll Over Beethoven," "Sweet Little Sixteen," and "Johnny B. Goode." He went on to release albums well into the late 1970s and carried out a relentless touring schedule until 2011 when he collapsed on stage during a show.
Just last year, Berry revealed plans to release his first studio album since 1979, Chuck. In a statement about the album, which is due out later this year through Dualtone, Berry said: "This record is dedicated to my beloved Toddy. My darlin', I'm growing old! I've worked on this record for a long time. Now I can hang up my shoes!"
Over the years, Berry has been credited with influencing iconic artists like Elvis Presley, the Beatles, the Rolling Stones and countless others. He was amongst the first musicians inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame when it opened in 1986.
UPDATE (3/20, 4 p.m. EDT): According to TMZ, Berry suffered a heart attack and his cause of death will be listed as "natural causes." No autopsy is planned.
The police confirmed Berry's death in a Facebook post:
Berry was born in St. Louis in 1926 and gave his first public performance in 1941, while still a student at Sumner High School. Shortly thereafter, he served time Intermediate Reformatory for Young Men at Algoa, where he formed a singing quartet. He was released on his 21st birthday in 1947, married Themetta "Toddy" Suggs and worked odd jobs until heading to Chicago in 1955 to record his first single, "Maybellene" for Chess Records.
Throughout the '50s, he popularized rock'n'roll music with subsequent hits like "Roll Over Beethoven," "Sweet Little Sixteen," and "Johnny B. Goode." He went on to release albums well into the late 1970s and carried out a relentless touring schedule until 2011 when he collapsed on stage during a show.
Just last year, Berry revealed plans to release his first studio album since 1979, Chuck. In a statement about the album, which is due out later this year through Dualtone, Berry said: "This record is dedicated to my beloved Toddy. My darlin', I'm growing old! I've worked on this record for a long time. Now I can hang up my shoes!"
Over the years, Berry has been credited with influencing iconic artists like Elvis Presley, the Beatles, the Rolling Stones and countless others. He was amongst the first musicians inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame when it opened in 1986.