Themetta Suggs (2024)

FAQs

Who did Chuck Berry marry? ›

Berry was released from the reformatory on his 21st birthday in 1947. On October 28, 1948, Berry married Themetta "Toddy" Suggs, who gave birth to Darlin Ingrid Berry on October 3, 1950.

Chuck Berry, who with his indelible guitar licks, brash self-confidence and memorable songs about cars, girls and wild dance parties did as much as anyone to define rock 'n' roll's potential and attitude in its early years, died on Saturday at his home near Wentzville, Mo. He was 90.

Legendary musician Chuck Berry, who was central to the development of rock 'n' roll beginning in the '50s with indelible hits like "Roll Over Beethoven," "Rock and Roll Music" and "Johnny B. Goode," died today in St. Charles County, Mo. He was 90 years old.

He had a great interest in photography inspired by his cousin Harry Davis. Berry even did some work as a freelance photographer for a time.

Louis where he often played. Hundreds of fans filed past Berry, whose beloved cherry-red Gibson guitar was bolted to the inside of his coffin's lid. "I am here because Chuck Berry meant a lot to anybody who grew up on rock 'n' roll," said Wendy Mason, who drove in from Kansas City, Kansas, for the visitation.

C.A. "Chuck" Berry​

Little did Chuck know that responding to a WWII US Army recruiting call to “Learn to Fly” would set the course for the rest of his life. He flew combat gliders in two major campaigns in Europe in WWII, The Battle of the Bulge in December 1944 and Crossing the Rhine in March 1945.

Accused of transporting Janice Escalanti, a 14 year-old Apache girl, across state lines and raping her repeatedly, Berry claimed he merely hired her to work in one of his clubs.

Elvis watched Chuck perform many times in Las Vegas and they had a great admiration for each other. Jerry Schilling wrote about their encounters in his book. Chuck liked Elvis, thought he was great and was complementary about him after his passing.

St. Louis, MO

Chuck Berry / Place of burial

GUITAR LESSONS

His friend, Ira Harris, showed him techniques on the guitar that would become the foundation of Berry's original sound. Then in 1952, he began playing guitar and singing in a club band whose song list ranged from blues to ballads to calypso to country.

How many siblings did Chuck Berry have? ›

Chuck Berry was born in St. Louis, Missouri on October 18, 1926 to a middle class family which included six siblings. His father Henry worked in a flour mill and his mother Martha was a college graduate.

The show was extra special because it was only a few days before his 88th birthday. Although the performance had been rough as Berry played off key because he suffered from hearing problems, and forgot lyrics, the man was nearing his 90s so the fact that he even busted out 14 songs was impressive.

Upon finishing high school, Berry worked on a factory assembly line and then, after taking a night course in cosmetology became a hairdresser. In the early 1950's, already married and the father of two children, he supplemented his income by taking a job as a guitarist.

The Beatles' and The Stones' travelin'-man tales perfectly mimic Chuck's upbeat, blues-rock storytelling. The Ramones and the Sex Pistols distilled Berry's raw, minimal riffs into what would become the genesis of scrappy three-chord punk.

Chuck Berry (Charles Edward Anderson Berry) was born on October 18, 1926, in St. Louis. Widely acknowledged as one of the founding architects of Rock & Roll, the singer, songwriter and guitarist has had a major impact on American and world culture.

Harris-Stowe State University | #AlumniSpotlight 🐝 Themetta Suggs, the wife of the late Chuck Berry, proves that philanthropy can transform lives.

Who did Chuck Berry leave his money to? He left a secure inheritance for his wife and four children. His wife, Themetta, is entitled to at least half of the money and half ownership of the intellectual property.

Richard Wayne Penniman (December 5, 1932 – May 9, 2020), known professionally as Little Richard, was an American singer, pianist, and songwriter. He was an influential figure in popular music and culture for seven decades.