Chuck Berry has passed at the age of 90.
Although one would think that this person would need no introduction, there is yet another generation of guitarists and music lovers that have come after him. I hope they know who he was too.
Every one of us here who have ever picked up a guitar with the intent to play Rock music....of any genre of Rock owe it to this man.
This was the man who inspired the likes of Eric Clapton, Keith Richards, Ted Nugent, etc.
This was the man who wrote Rock songs before there was Rock songs. We would have no Cream without him. No Led Zeppelin. No Doors.
No Rolling Stones. Maybe not even the Beatles. Then there would be no Black Sabbath, no Iron Maiden, no Judas Priest......
I could go on endlessly, and branch farther into more genres and even list some Country guitarists, but the point is made. The lineage isn't always clear and direct, but if it was Rock......Chuck Berry gave us Rock.
He gave us Rock with attitude. He gave us the idea that a loud guitar could be cool.
He gave us Johhny B. Goode., Maybellene, and Roll Over Beethoven.
We as Rock musicians owe nearly everything Rock to Chuck Berry. RIP and continue to Rock the Afters.