Chuck Berry net worth amounts to $10 million as of 2021. His name by birth is Charles Edward Anderson Berry. He was an American singer and songwriter. Chuck Berry has been popularly known as the father of rock and roll music as he is the pioneer of Rock and Roll Music.
Berry got an early exposure to music at his school and church he went to. He played a major part in refining rhythm and blues which a popular music genre developed in African American communities.
Berry has been popularly known for songs created by him including Johnny B. Goode and Maybellene. Berry started producing songs in the 1950s and the year 1958 his release of ‘Johnny B. Goode’ became number 1 hit song in the music industry giving Berry the much-awaited recognition for his work.
In the year 1971 Berry’s popular release ‘My Ding-a-Ling’ reached apex of super hit releases. His contribution to rock music is a remarkable one as he has influenced the genre in a very unique way.
It is indeed true that he has made history in the field of rock music by giving it a personal touch of his amazing lyrics and music combination.
Chuck Berry Net Worth and Overview
| Net Worth | $10 million |
| Occupation | Singer Song-writer |
| Date Of Birth | 18th October 1926 |
| Died | 18th March 2017 (aged 90) |
| Height | 6’2” (1.87 m) |
| Spouse(s) | Themetta Suggs (m. 1948) |
| Children | Aloha Berry Darlin Ingrid Berry Charles Berry Jr Melody Exes Berry-Eskridge |
| Country Of Origin | United States of America |
| Source Of Wealth | Singing Song-writing |
| Instagram Followers | 87.3 K |
| Twitter Followers | 6.6 K |
| Youtube Subscribers | 64.6 K |
| Last Updated | December 2020 |
Early Life
Chuck Berry was born on the 18th of October in the year 1926 to Henry Berry (father) and Martha Berry (mother) in St. Louis. Berry was raised by his parents in St. Louis’s neighborhood called the Ville.
The area he lived in was full of people belonging to the Black community. Berry’s parents Martha and Henry were the grandchildren of enslaved Black people. Their ancestors migrated to America in search of a job. Berry’s mother Martha was a graduate and his father Henry was a carpenter by profession.
Chuck Berry had a neighborhood full of middle-class black people. He had never witnessed white community people until he turned three years old. When he turned three, Berry witnessed white people who were firefighters and were on their task to put off a fire ignited in his neighborhood.
Berry believed that they were too scared to approach the fire which made their face turn white but Berry’s father later explained to him about the white community and how they belonged to a race with white skin.
During his schooling days, Berry attended Summer High School and has been a curious kid since then. He helped his father in his work and also took interest in singing at a young age which was a result of his participation in a school show.
Career Highlights and Awards
Early Beginnings
Chuck Berry has been a creative individual since childhood. During his childhood, he helped his father in his field of profession. Berry took interest in photography as well.
He developed an interest in photography due to his uncle, Harry Davis who was a professional photographer. Berry learned photography skills from him.
He attended Summer High School for education which was a prestigious institution as it was the first all-black school in Mississippi. He began showing interest in singing at a young age.
Berry began singing in the church choir when he was just six years old. Chuck also participated in his school’s annual talent show where he sang ‘Confessin The Blues’ by Jay Mcshann and was accompanied by one of his friends who played the guitar.
Berry’s performance was amazing although it had crude content which was disliked by the school’s administration this performance was a turning point in Berry’s life as he discovered his love for it and even went ahead to learn guitar.
Journey to Success
He began working for his father’s construction business in the year 1947 when he turned 21. Also, he worked as a part-time photographer and janitor at a local auto plant. It was in the year 1951 when Berry turned back to music and his classmate Tommy Stevens accompanied him.
They both played guitar at a local black’s nightclub located in St. Louis and Berry grew famous among the crowd in a very short period. It was in the year 1951 when Chuck met Jonnie Johnson who was a local jazz pianist and Berry joined his band.
The band played at a nightclub in the East St. Louis and their marvelous performance even attracted the white patrons.
In the mid-50s Berry went in search of collaboration and wanted to earn a music contract. During his search, he often went to Chicago which is the Midwest capital of Black music. He met Muddy Waters there who is a legend of Blues music. Waters suggested him to meet Chess Records.
Berry wrote a song ‘Maybellene’ which the Chess Records liked a lot and offered him a contract. The song peaked in the top Rhythm and Blues music and was at no.5 on the pop charts.
The perfect blend of Chicago Blues and the unique narration makes it the first-ever rock n roll song as remarked by various historic musicians. There was no looking back after this as his music career in his chosen genre became the most preferred genre due to the music style and not to forget the taste of rock n roll.
Personal Life
Berry has been creative since childhood as he developed an interest in his dad’s work and even learned photography from his uncle who was a professional photographer.
Soon Berry grew into a troublemaker in his high school days as he was uninterested in studies and he didn’t get along with the strict decorum and discipline at school.
In the year 1944, when he was just 17, Berry along with two of his friends drop out of school and went on an impromptu road trip to California.
This road trip wasn’t a good decision at all as he got himself into big trouble. The trio found an abandoned pistol in parking at Kansas City and decided to go on a robbing spree.
Berry along with his friends robbed a cloth store, a bakery, and a barbershop. Berry along with his friends also stole a car after looting shops. They were eventually arrested by highway patrolmen.
They were sentenced to 10 years of imprisonment ignoring the fact that they were minors and it was their first-ever misconduct.
Berry’s good behavior in imprisonment got him an early release in the year 1947 on his 21st birthday that was on the 18th of October.
He then started fresh by working as a part-time photographer and a janitor at a local auto plant and even helped his dad in his construction business.
Berry then got married in the year 1948 to Themetta Toddy Sugs and together they had four kids.
Criticism
Chuck Berry came into the spotlight since the mid-1950s and his sings were acing the top hit lists. But his career faced a big hurdle and came to a pause in the year 1960.
Chuck Berry, the man who won everyone’s heart was convicted of illegal transporting women across the lines of state for immoral purposes. It was in the year 1958 Berry opened a club in downtown St. Louis.
On one of his trips to Mexico, he met a woman who was a waitress and a prostitute for the time being. He brought her to his Club and employed her there. After some time Chuck Berry fired her and she was arrested for prostitution.
This led to stains on Berry’s image for transporting a woman for immoral purposes and was arrested for the same. Berry was sent to serve 20 months in jail for the same.
What is Chuck Berry’s Net Worth in 2021?
Berry was found unresponsive on March 18, 2017 and was declared dead by 911. He suffered a cardiac arrest at the age of 90 and eventually left all his fans with his creations to cherish forever.
Berry left behind a legacy and a net worth in millions. As of 2021, Chuck Berry net worth amounts to $10 million.
Chuck Berry has been considered as the creator of rock and roll music in the music world and some greqt historian music artists agree to it. He has left a trail of wonderful songs that have made a space in the heart of his fans.
Today Chuck Berry net worth amounts to $10 million.
Interesting Facts about Chuck Berry
- Chuck Berry was sentenced to imprisonment for 10 years while he was just seventeen. The reason being looting shops and stealing a car with two of his friends.
- Berry was a trouble maker in school and was not interested in studying. He dropped out of school at the age of 17 with two of his friends.
- Berry worked as a part-time photographer and a janitor before actually beginning his career in the music industry.
- Chuck Berry’s first-ever song was ‘Maybellene’ which was under the first contract he got because of his talent.
- He got married in 1948 that was even before commencing his career in the music world.
Summary
Chuck Berry net worth amounts to $10 million as of 2021. After his death, Berry left behind a trail of rock and roll music and is considered as the father of rock and roll.
He has seen a lot of ups and downs in his life, served in jail, worked as a janitor, and yet established himself as a singer and songwriter based on his sole talent.
Berry’s career gained speed in the mid-1950s but his career got derailed in the year 1961. Yet again he didn’t lose hope and again stood up and re-established himself in the music world.
His career line is worth inspiring the youth and his songs form a part of his legacy which will remain in the hearts of his fans forever.
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Hi, I am Kunika and as you can guess, I love numbers. I started Browsed Magazine to share interesting numbers behind celeb’s net worth, the most expensive stuff around, and top lists that’ll take you in for a surprise.