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Rock legend Chuck Berry dead at 90

Rock ‘n’ roll legend Chuck Berry has died at the age of 90, Missouri police say.

The St Charles County Police Department announced his death in a post on their Facebook page.

“The St Charles County Police Department sadly confirms the death of Charles Edward Anderson Berry Sr, better known as legendary musician Chuck Berry,” it said.

Police said they were called to a medical emergency at a Buckner Road address at about 12:40pm on Saturday (local time).

“Inside the home, first responders observed an unresponsive man and immediately administered lifesaving techniques,” the police department said.

“Unfortunately, the 90-year-old man could not be revived and was pronounced deceased at 1:26pm.

“The family requests privacy during this time of bereavement.”

With songs like Sweet Little Sixteen, Maybellene, Roll Over Beethoven and Johnny B Goode in the late 1950s, Berry helped lay the foundation for modern rock music and was a major influence on scores of 1960s bands, including the Beatles and the Rolling Stones.

The St Louis, Missouri, songwriter and guitar player was given a Grammy lifetime achievement award in 1984 and was in the first class of Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees in 1986.

Former Beatles drummer Ringo Starr tweeted a photograph of the US rock pioneer captioned: “Just let me hear some of that rock ‘n’ roll music any old way you use it I am playing I’m talking about you. God bless Chuck Berry Chuck.”

He was joined on social media in tribute to the writer of hit songs including Johnny B Goode and Memphis, Tennessee, by Bruce Springsteen who tweeted: “Chuck Berry was rock’s greatest practitioner, guitarist, and the greatest pure rock ‘n’ roll writer who ever lived.
“This is a tremendous loss of a giant for the ages.”

Brian Wilson of The Beach Boys said on Twitter: “I am so sad to hear about Chuck Berry passing – a big inspiration! He will be missed by everyone who loves Rock ‘n Roll. Love & Mercy.”

A statement issued by the Rolling Stones said the band’s “deeply saddened” by Berry’s death.

ABC & AAP

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