Chuck Berry hitting town.

Byline: GORDON BARR 

VETERAN performer Chuck Berry is at the Journal Tyne Theatre in Newcastle on Sunday. Now 83, his music has transcended generations and he earns respect to this day because he is truly an entertainer. Berry, also known as the Father of Rock 'n' Roll, gained success by watching the audience's reaction and playing accordingly, putting his listeners' amusement above all else. For this reason, tunes like Johnny B Goode, Maybellene and Memphis have become anthems of American culture.

Born in St Louis on October 18, 1926, Berry had many influences on his life that shaped his musical style. He emulated the smooth vocal clarity of his idol, Nat King Cole, while playing blues songs by artists like Muddy Waters. For his first stage performance, Berry chose to sing Confessin' the Blues. It was at his high school's student musical performance, when the blues was well-liked but not considered appropriate for such an event. He got a thunderous applause for his daring choice and, from then on, Berry had to be on stage.

LEGEND - Chuck Berry's incredible success is due to his ability to articulate the concerns and attitudes of his audience in his music. At the height of his success, Berry was a 30-year-old black man singing to a mostly white, teenage audience. In the 60s and 70s, Berry's music was the inspiration for many bands. In 1972 had the first and only chart-topper of his career with My Ding-A-Ling, and 1986 fittingly saw him become the first inductee of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

GORDON BARR