Get All Access for $5/mo

After Chuck Berry's Death, Bruce Springsteen, Ringo Star and Other Legends Pay Tribute The influential musician died today at 90.

By Entrepreneur Staff

Getty Images. Photo by Echoes/Redferns)
Chuck Berry performing on stage.

Chuck Berry, often called the 'father of rock 'n' roll,' died today in St. Louis. Police responded to a medical emergency and he could not be revived. Berry was 90 years old.

Berry is known in part for classic songs, such as "Johnny B. Goode," but mostly for inspiring some of the biggest names in music. In fact, Keith Richards and Mick Jagger, once old school mates who'd lost touch, re-connected in part because of Chuck Berry, when Keith saw Mick holding one of the artist's records. In a famous letter to his aunt before the Rolling Stones hit it big, a 19-year-old Keith Richards gushes about playing guitar "Chuck style" and bumping into Mick. The Rolling Stones played its first gig around three months after that fateful meeting.

In fact, the list of legends Berry inspired reads like a 'Who's Who' of modern music and includes names such as Smokey Robinson, Joan Jett, Bob Seger, Roy Orbison and Stevie Wonder. John Lennon even once said, "If you tried to give rock and roll another name you might call it Chuck Berry."

Berry's influence was not limited to musicians. Even Carl Sagan was a fan. On Berry's 60th birthday, Sagan wrote him a special letter. In it, he said:

When they tell you your music will live forever,
you can usually be sure they're exaggerating. But
Johnny B. Goode is on the Voyager interstellar records
attached to NASA's Voyager spacecraft -- now two billion
miles from Earth and bound for the stars. These records
will last a billion years or more.

Upon hearing of his passing, top artists, leaders and even astronauts took to Twitter to pay their respects. For a sense of Berry's impact, take a look at their tributes.
Entrepreneur Staff

Entrepreneur Staff

Editor

For more than 30 years, Entrepreneur has set the course for success for millions of entrepreneurs and small business owners. We'll teach you the secrets of the winners and give you exactly what you need to lay the groundwork for success.

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Editor's Pick

Most Popular

See all
Side Hustle

This Former Starbucks Employee Started a Side Hustle That's Making More Than $70,000 a Month — and He's Not Done Yet

When Tom Saar moved to New York City, he spotted a lucrative business opportunity.

By Amanda Breen
Business News

Is One Company to Blame for Soaring Rental Prices in the U.S.?

The FBI recently raided a major corporate landlord while investigating a rent price-fixing scheme. Here's what we know.

By Sherin Shibu
Business News

Amazon Has a Blank Book Problem: Buyers Report Receiving Fakes of Bestselling UFO Book

The book looked fine on the outside, but the inside was out-of-this-world.

By Sherin Shibu
Business Ideas

63 Small Business Ideas to Start in 2024

We put together a list of the best, most profitable small business ideas for entrepreneurs to pursue in 2024.

By Eve Gumpel
Business News

Paramount Leadership Alludes to Layoffs If Merger Does Not Go Through

Paramount is awaiting approval on its merger with Skydance Media from majority shareholder Shari Redstone.

By Emily Rella
Business News

Microsoft Reportedly Lays Off Over 1,500 Employees in Cloud Sector as Partnership with OpenAI Strengthens

Alphabet also reportedly laid off employees from several teams in Google's cloud unit last week.

By Emily Rella