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Chuck Berry: The Autobiography
by
Chuck Berry
This is the astonishingly candid autobiography of Chuck Berry, the man who created rock'n'roll. It includes a discography and filmography, and details of all of his recording sessions.
Paperback
Published
June 1st 2001
by Faber & Faber
(first published 1987)
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Community Reviews
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Being a guitar player, it's naturally fitting that I would be a big fan of Chuck Berry. The man's playing is still inspiring today, almost sixty years after these songs were first recorded. While it's true that Chuck could have toned down the coverage of certain things, I also feel that their inclusion gives us a look into how the man got to be who he was at the time he wrote this book.
At no point in this book does Chuck make any excuses for his behavior, he just tells you exactly what happened, ...more
At no point in this book does Chuck make any excuses for his behavior, he just tells you exactly what happened, ...more
love this autobiography of Chuck Berry's. Like his music the book is bouncy, energetic,
and unrepentant. His powerful accounts of racism make for an enlightening reading.
He is candid in his chapter dealing with his three years jail term for violating the
Mann Act (aside: less than a year after his conviction, both the Department of Justice
and the FBI handed down instructions to local prosecutors forbidding them to prosecute
Mann Act violations unless it involved "organized commercial prosec ...more
This is a first-hand tale of the life of an early rock and roller, told as politely as can be. I thought the music side is way under-played. He writes of a high school choir performance that got him a lot of applause, and messing around learning guitar a bit. Then it's a 3 year stretch in prison and working as a carpenter for years until he writes suddenly that he decided to audition for local clubs to try and play music. Chuck also writes of numerous affairs while happily married, which isn't q
...more
Love the clever word-play and verse, the history of the racism he battled, and finding out about his influences and songwriting inspiration. Did not enjoy all the womanizing and really confused by how his wife could tolerate all that. Berry's a highly intelligent rascal and quite compelling, just the absolute opposite of a role model
The story of Chuck Berry's life told by the man himself.
This book could easily be renamed: Chuck the Great, Chuck the Sleazebag, Chuck: Public Enemy #1.
In his autobiography, Chuck Berry tells it all, from childhood antics, run-ins with the law, time in prison, and his life as a musician. His book leaves you thinking: wow, he did that? And, where would music today be without Chuck Berry?
Uncovering some of America's darkest truths, this book tells as much about race and America in the mid twent ...more
This book could easily be renamed: Chuck the Great, Chuck the Sleazebag, Chuck: Public Enemy #1.
In his autobiography, Chuck Berry tells it all, from childhood antics, run-ins with the law, time in prison, and his life as a musician. His book leaves you thinking: wow, he did that? And, where would music today be without Chuck Berry?
Uncovering some of America's darkest truths, this book tells as much about race and America in the mid twent ...more
Chuck wrote his own bio and it's a pretty entertaining read. Definitely interesting are all the great stories of how he got his start, his early career and his many zany adventures. Berry wrote some AMAZING songs and is one hell of a guitar player. His struggles and successes at combating and overcoming racism are inspiring. His relationships with his wife and his many mistresses seem pretty odd, even in his own words. What I'd like to read at this point is a Chuck Berry bio written by someone e
...more
Too much womanizing for my taste, but it is his story, not mine. His wife must be a loving, longsuffering woman who have lived with all this. It was interesting, though, to see what happened to him -- his imprisonments, his escapades, his rise to fame. I never knew about Berry Park, which he created as a place where everyone could come for fun, regardless of skin color. He describes trips through the South, with its racism, and contrasts those with trips through the North, completely the opposit
...more
This autobiography written by Chuck Berry has his life from birth to 1985. He has musical inspirations, sexual exploits, run ins with the law, and struggles with prejudice and segregation. His literary writing style is the same as his songwriting style, with rhymes (and sometimes entire poems) sprinkled throughout each chapter. He is very frank in a way that reminds you that Chuck Berry is not just The Father of Rock n' Roll; he is a regular guy too. A highlight of the book is the chapter in whi
...more
As a massive fan of Chuck berry, I felt it necessary to read his auto! I learned a lot from this book, about Berry's life and the development of his amazing musical mind. However, I think the book is poorly written and is hardly a page-turner. It seemed that he went into enormous detail of his love life, which i felt unnecessary for his book. Despite this, I believe it could be reflecting Chuck Berry's personality. Greatly entertaining for lovers of Chuck and rock n roll music.. Otherwise, not s
...more
I wouldn't consider myself as much a Chuck fan as a Rock and Roll fan....but this guy is a douche. It's less about life and music than "this is how much money I had and what kind of flashy car I had and who I was screwing along the way".
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Whoa! The title should be Chuck Berry: Cheeky Monkey! Not very well written but interesting if you want to know more about the early days of of rock-and-roll and the most naturally talented of the pioneers.
Totally entertaining! Definately not what I expected...not sure what exactly I did expect. But, it kept me entertained!
A very shallow book about a very complicated man, who is obviously holding an awful lot back.
Great book, well written. Lots of insight to the real person.
All about him being broke and in minimum security prisons.
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Charles Edward Anderson "Chuck" Berry is an American guitarist, singer and songwriter.
Chuck Berry is an influential figure and one of the pioneers of rock and roll music. According to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's website, "While no individual can be said to have invented rock and roll, Chuck Berry comes the closest of any single figure to being the one who put all the essential pieces together ...more
More about Chuck Berry...
Chuck Berry is an influential figure and one of the pioneers of rock and roll music. According to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's website, "While no individual can be said to have invented rock and roll, Chuck Berry comes the closest of any single figure to being the one who put all the essential pieces together ...more
