The definitive biography of Chuck Berry, legendary performer and inventor of rock and roll

Best known as the groundbreaking artist behind classics like “Johnny B. Goode,” “Maybellene,” “You Never Can Tell” and “Roll Over Beethoven,” Chuck Berry was a man of wild contradictions, whose motives and motivations were often shrouded in mystery. After all, how did a teenage delinquent come to write so many songs that transformed American culture? And, once he achieved fame and recognition, why did he put his career in danger with a lifetime’s worth of reckless personal behavior? Throughout his life, Berry refused to shed light on either the mastery or the missteps, leaving the complexity that encapsulated his life and underscored his music largely unexplored—until now.

In
Chuck Berry , biographer RJ Smith crafts a comprehensive portrait of one of the great American entertainers, guitarists, and lyricists of the 20th century, bringing Chuck Berry to life in vivid detail. Based on interviews, archival research, legal documents, and a deep understanding of Berry’s St. Louis (his birthplace, and the place where he died in March 2017), Smith sheds new light on a man few have ever really understood. By placing his life within the context of the American culture he made and eventually withdrew from, we understand how Berry became such a groundbreaking figure in music, erasing racial boundaries, crafting subtle political commentary, and paying a great price for his success. While celebrating his accomplishments, the book also does not shy away from troubling aspects of his public and private life, asking profound questions about how and why we separate the art from the artist.

Berry declined to call himself an artist, shrugging that he was good at what he did. But the man's achievement was the rarest kind, the kind that had social and political resonance, the kind that made America want to get up and dance. At long last,
Chuck Berry brings the man and the music together.

Customer reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars
185 global ratings

Customer Reviews, including Product Star Ratings help customers to learn more about the product and decide whether it is the right product for them.

To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. It also analyzed reviews to verify trustworthiness.

Learn more how customers reviews work on Amazon

Customers say

Customers find the book a great read with a detailed storyline. They also appreciate the superbly performed rock and roll music.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

Select to learn more
Reading experience Storyline Music
6 customers mention "Reading experience" 6 positive 0 negative

Customers find the book a great read and a page turner. They also appreciate the cleverly written and superbly performed rock and roll.

"...But he IS the man who made up guitar-based, cleverly written and superbly performed rock and roll music." Read more

"...This book is much more detailed than his autobiography. Good read ." Read more

"I gave this book to my husband for Christmas. He found the book interesting , but not the best writing style." Read more

"...And that's putting it lightly! Great read , and it was truly a page turner. Ask my wife...." Read more

5 customers mention "Storyline" 5 positive 0 negative

Customers find the storyline detailed and complex. They also say it's a great book about a legend and Chuck Berry.

"...This book is much more detailed than his autobiography . Good read." Read more

" Great bio about Chuck Berry , one of the most complex beings in American culture...." Read more

"This seems to be an honest, comprehensive bio of a complicated genius . Let’s see how history remembers him." Read more

"...A fabulous and complex mind blowing story of an almost inexplicable life journey." Read more

3 customers mention "Music" 3 positive 0 negative

Customers find the music in the book superbly performed and brilliantly written.

"...the man who made up guitar-based, cleverly written and superbly performed rock and roll music ." Read more

"Chuck Berry is in an elite class of rock musicians , likely the first of the most influential, just look through his music catalogue...." Read more

"...He was also a brilliant song writer and musician . This book shows you the many sides of a very complicated man." Read more

Chuck Berry, the Original. No one else like him, which isn’t the worst thing. But he IS the man who made up guitar-based, cleverly written and superbly performed rock and roll music.
Helpful
Report Excellent account of Chuck Berry’s life and how rock n-roll helped end segregation
Holy Harold
3.0 out of 5 stars I've not read any other Chuck Berry bios, so I can't say whether RJSmith's book is any better or worse on the detail of Berry's life - there are certainly a lot of footnote references to the other books available so this may be a compendium of the best sources.

On the other hand, I (in Scotland) wasn't aware of St Louis's place in US Black history - at least not so much as now. On this. RJSmith is strong and informative..

Where he's weak is on pedantic analysis (and overdone praise) of throwaway lyrics as opposed to broad generalisations about what made Chuck the pervert tick. Why would a talented, goodlooking guy from an aspirational Black family go off the rails like he did? We'll never know from this book.
2 people found this helpful
Report