Music Library Association Conference 2023

Perhaps no one had more influence on the formation and development of rock & roll than St. Louis native Chuck Berry. He created a singular songwriting style, inimitable guitar technique, electrifying sound, and brilliant showmanship that served as the blueprint for every generation of artists that followed him. Berry's catalog of songs – including “Maybellene,” “Brown-Eyed Handsome Man,” “Roll Over Beethoven,” “Johnny B. Goode,” “Rock & Roll Music,” “School Day,” and “Back in the U.S.A.” – is among the greatest American songbooks of all time. In 1986, Berry was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame as its very first Inductee.

While he toured all over the world and his songs were rich with the names of places throughout America, Chuck Berry remained deeply tied to the city of St. Louis for his entire life. This panel discussion will cover Berry’s history and legacy, his upbringing in the historic St. Louis black neighborhood The Ville, his alma mater Sumner High School, his relationship with St. Louis throughout his career, and the legendary series of 209 shows he played during his final years at the city’s renowned music club Blueberry Hill. The panelists will also discuss the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame's new exhibit From School Days to Blueberry Hill: Chuck Berry in St. Louis, which opened in February 2023.