Chuck Berry's Real Name: Charles Edward Anderson Berry

Quick answer: The musician was known professionally as Chuck Berry. Britannica and AllMusic give the name Charles Edward Anderson Berry, place the birth on October 18, 1926, in St. Louis, Missouri, and record his death on March 18, 2017.

Real name and early life

Britannica identifies him as Chuck Berry, also known as Charles Edward Anderson Berry, and places the birth on October 18, 1926, in St. Louis, Missouri. AllMusic independently gives the same fuller name, the same birth date, and the same birthplace. Britannica says he was raised on the north side of St. Louis, gained early exposure to music through the choir of the Antioch Baptist Church, radio, and classes at Sumner High School, and that in high school he was sent to a Missouri prison for young offenders to serve three years for armed robbery. After his release, Britannica says, he worked at an auto plant, studied hairdressing, and played music in small nightclubs. AllMusic independently says he later worked the East St. Louis clubs.

Career highlights

Britannica says Muddy Waters directed him to the Chess brothers in Chicago, and that in 1955 his first recording session produced "Maybellene," which crested at number five on the pop charts. Britannica lists later hits including "Roll Over Beethoven" (1956), "School Day" (1957), "Rock and Roll Music" (1957), "Sweet Little Sixteen" (1958), and "Johnny B. Goode" (1958). AllMusic independently records "Maybellene" as his 1955 debut single and also names "Johnny B. Goode." Britannica says that at the peak of his popularity he was prosecuted for violating the Mann Act, convicted, and remanded to prison, and that after his release he returned to the pop charts with "No Particular Place to Go" in 1964. AllMusic independently records that sentence and later singles including "You Never Can Tell" and "Nadine." Britannica and AllMusic both record that "My Ding-A-Ling" became his first number one hit in 1972. Britannica records the 1987 book Chuck Berry: The Autobiography, the documentary Hail! Hail! Rock 'n' Roll, a 1984 Grammy Award for lifetime achievement, and a 1986 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction. The Hall independently dates his final gig at Blueberry Hill in St. Louis to October 15, 2014. AllMusic says that on his 90th birthday in 2016 he announced the album Chuck, released in 2017 after his death.

Death

Britannica says he died on March 18, 2017, in St. Charles county, Missouri. AllMusic independently gives the same date and places the death in Wentzville, Missouri.

Name notes for searchers

People looking up Chuck Berry or Charles Edward Anderson Berry are looking for the same musician, including the later work and the song Johnny B. Goode most often associated with his name.