"Johnny B. Goode", "Maybellene", and "Rock and Roll Music" are all hit songs by which American singer?

Chuck Berry was the American singer, guitarist, and songwriter behind “Johnny B. Goode,” “Maybellene,” and “Rock and Roll Music.” Born Charles Edward Anderson Berry in St. Louis, Missouri, on October 18, 1926, he became one of the central figures in the creation and spread of rock and roll. His music joined rhythm and blues, country-flavored guitar lines, sharp storytelling, and a driving beat that helped define what early rock sounded like.

“Maybellene,” released in 1955, was Berry’s breakthrough hit. The song was adapted in part from the country tune “Ida Red,” but Berry transformed it into something new, faster, louder, and more modern. Its lyrics told a car-chase story about jealousy, speed, and romance, which gave it a teenage energy that matched the rise of rock and roll culture. The record was released by Chess Records in Chicago, a label already known for blues and rhythm and blues artists. “Maybellene” crossed over to pop audiences and helped introduce Berry as a writer and performer who could speak directly to young listeners.

“Roll Over Beethoven,” “School Day,” “Sweet Little Sixteen,” “Rock and Roll Music,” and “Johnny B. Goode” followed, and together they shaped much of the vocabulary of rock music. Berry’s songs often used everyday teenage subjects: school, cars, dancing, records, romance, jukeboxes, and the excitement of hearing music on the radio. He wrote with humor and detail, often turning simple situations into compact stories. His lyrics were unusually clear and clever for early rock and roll, and they helped make him more than just a strong performer. He was one of rock’s first great songwriters.

“Johnny B. Goode,” released in 1958, became Berry’s signature song. It tells the story of a poor country boy who can play guitar “just like ringing a bell.” The song’s opening guitar riff is one of the most famous in popular music. It has been copied, quoted, and learned by generations of guitar players. The track also carried a partly autobiographical feeling, since Berry himself had risen from St. Louis clubs to national fame through his guitar playing and songwriting. The character Johnny became a symbol of musical ambition and raw talent.

“Rock and Roll Music,” released in 1957, was almost a statement of purpose. The song celebrates the direct appeal of the new music style and rejects anything that feels too polished or removed from the dance floor. Its rhythm, guitar work, and confident vocal delivery made it a natural anthem for the era. The Beatles later recorded their own version, showing how strongly Berry’s work influenced British rock musicians as well as American ones.

Berry’s guitar style was one of his greatest contributions. He used double-string bends, quick riffs, and bright, ringing phrases that gave rock guitar a recognizable language. His famous “duck walk” stage move also became part of his image. He brought showmanship to the stage without letting it overwhelm the music. The guitar was always at the center.

His influence reached across generations. The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, The Beach Boys, Bruce Springsteen, and many others drew from his songs, riffs, and lyrical style. The Rolling Stones’ early identity was especially tied to Berry’s music, and Keith Richards often spoke about Berry’s importance as a guitarist. Berry’s recordings became part of the foundation that later rock bands built on.

Chuck Berry’s career also included serious legal troubles and periods of interruption, but his musical legacy remained enormous. In 1986, he was among the first performers inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. That same year, Keith Richards helped organize the concert film Hail! Hail! Rock ’n’ Roll, which celebrated Berry’s 60th birthday and his place in music history.

Berry died on March 18, 2017, at the age of 90. By then, his role in American music was firmly established. “Johnny B. Goode,” “Maybellene,” and “Rock and Roll Music” are not just famous old records. They are building blocks of rock and roll, full of rhythm, wit, guitar power, and the sound of a new musical era taking shape.