Chuck Berry celebrated on his 100th birthday

musicOct 18, 202618100

On October 18, 2026 the centennial of Chuck Berry's birth was officially observed while the Bruce Springsteen Center for American Music at Monmouth University staged a daylong symposium and concert titled Chuck Berry at 100 on October 11 in the Pollak Theatre. Keynote speaker RJ Smith, author of Chuck Berry: An American Life, framed Berry's ‘‘complicated genius’’ and how his work both reflected and helped reshape a racist and sexist society. The event was the Center's first artist-focused symposium other than its 2024 Beatles program and the first since the Center opened its new building last June. Organizers increased panel diversity by including Smithsonian Traveling Exhibition Service content director Marquette Folley and Monmouth African American history professor Hettie V. Williams, who also served as moderators alongside the Center's Melissa Kozlowski. The program addressed both Berry's enduring musical achievements, including landmark songs such as Maybellene and Johnny B. Goode, and his personal and social controversies. The Center screened three Chuck Berry, themed video clips from Bruce Springsteen archivist Thom Zimny's vault, including one never before publicly shown, and announced additional Zimny vault presentations scheduled for October 24.

Strictly 4 My Navigators

@lizzslockeroom.bsky.social

Remembering Chuck Berry on his birthday 🎸 (October 18, 1926 – March 18, 2017) 💙🕊 #ChuckBerry100 3 Legends discussing racism. "People were slow to accept change."- Bo Diddley "You were Black."- Little Richard "Tell him again, will you tell that man, again." -Chuck Berry

503h ago

2strong2silence.bsky.social4

I mean ain’t it funny that all of their idols are black and it kills them.

Brad Pitt Fighter3

The way he called him, "A big ol' greazy Black guy...."🤣🤣🤣

Derain Collier2

TELL HIM AGAIN... WHAT KIDS!? PREACH IT!

Quoting this

Strictly 4 My Navigators15

Bo Diddley started to make excuses for those racists & Chuck Berry and Little Richard weren't having it. NEVER make excuses for racists or racism. Learn something from these legends.

Goö Punch4

“You were black!” Cut through like a knife

2strong2silence.bsky.social2

All of white folks cultural heroes are Black & it drives them insane. I mean I used to wonder what it must have been like for those white parents to watch their kids go nuts over a Black man and then saw the same thing when their kids started adopting hip hop culture.

(Screams From The) Burning Ambulance

@burningambulance.bsky.social

Today is the 100th anniversary of Chuck Berry's birth. I wrote about him in this week's newsletter. burningambulance.substack.com/p/chuck-berr...

163h ago

Kilborn Alley Blues Band

@kilbornalley.bsky.social

BLACK MUSIC SUNDAY ENCORE--CHUCK BERRY! Videos like a damn Time Machine! www.dailykos.com/stories/2026...

83h ago

Music Box Magazine

@musicboxonline.bsky.social

Also Happy Birthday to: Chuck Berry Wynton Marsalis Esperanza Spalding Shaffer Chimere Smith, Jr aka Ne-Yo Simon Rix (Kaiser Chiefs) Peter Svensson (The Cardigans) Mark Moriss (The Bluetones) Curtis Stigers Joe Egan (Stealers Wheel) Gary Richrath (REO Speedwagon)

43h ago

🦋TNGal °‧🫧⋆.ೃ࿔*:･🐾

@countrytngal.bsky.social

My favorites are “Johnny B. Goode,” “No Particular Place to Go,” “Roll Over Beethoven,” & “Maybellene!” Chuck Berry didn't just influence rock & roll; he helped define it! His legendary guitar riffs, incredible energy, & unmistakable style paved the way for generations of musicians. 🎸🎶 Happy b-day!🎉

83h ago

Séamas Aloysius

@seamusaloysius.bsky.social

100 years ago today a Legend was born in Rock 'n' Roll. Chuck Berry 🕯️🌹🕊️ (October 18, 1926 💖 March 18, 2017) The "Father of Rock and Roll" of rock and roll music, who helped develop rhythm and blues into the major elements that made rock and roll distinctive.

Chuck Berry’s music has transcended generations. He earns respect to this day because he was truly an entertainer. Berry, also known as “The Father of Rock & Roll," gained success by watching the audience’s reaction and playing accordingly, putting his listeners’ amusement above all else. For this reason, tunes like “Johnny B. Goode,” “Maybellene” and “Memphis” have become anthems to an integrated American youth and popular culture. Berry is a musical icon who established rock and roll as a musical form and brought the worlds of black and white together in song. Born in St. Louis on October 18, 1926 Berry had many influences on his life that shaped his musical style. He emulated the smooth vocal clarity of his idol, Nat King Cole, while playing blues songs from bands like Muddy Waters. For his first stage performance, Berry chose to sing a Jay McShann song called “Confessin’ the Blues.” It was at his high school’s student musical performance, when the blues was well-liked but not considered appropriate for such an event. He got a thunderous applause for his daring choice, and from then on, Berry had to be onstage.

64h ago

Michelle

@wmichellewho.blacksky.app

The King, Chuck Berry, landed on this planet October 18, 1926, 100 years ago. music.youtube.com/playlist?lis...

12h ago

US Political Politics News 💙🌈🦋The Fighting Liberal

@us-political-news.bsky.social

Roll over, Beethoven: Chuck Berry’s in the house His music is one of the key foundation stones of rock ‘n’ roll and will live on forever.

13h ago

Stephen Barry

@wa3zgt.bsky.social

Chuck Berry’s 100th birthday is officially celebrated on October 18, 2026. To honor the Father of Rock and Roll, a tribute campaign known as CHUCK100... www.kshe95.com/event/chuck-... www.facebook.com/jay.rizzie.9... springsteencenter.org/curatorial-c... www.wearegreenbay.com/local5live/a...

1Yesterday

The Quiet Norm(an)

@whosyrhoosier.bsky.social

100 years of Chuck Berry? (I kinda like how that evokes an image of him emerging from the womb with a guitar...)

22h ago

CNN Brasil

@cnn-news.bsky.social

100 anos de Chuck Berry: como um negro do Missouri moldou o rock

13h ago

All Our Loving- Beatles Podcast

@allourloving.bsky.social

Happy heavenly birthday to the father of rock and roll who was born 100 years ago today. Photos taken around the Delmar Loop in 2016 where Chuck had a deep entertainment connection at. Proud to be a St. Louis native like he was. RIP Chuck Berry. #chuckberry #rockandroll #thebeatles #beatlesfans

13h ago

Nobozos

@bozoboy66.bsky.social

100 years ago today, Chuck Berry was born. Guitarist and songwriter who shaped rock and roll out of country, blues and R&B. Story songs, a double-stop guitar style, and a body of work that became the template.

11h ago

Letters To You - the Springsteen fan's companion...

@letters2u.bsky.social

As today we mark the official centennial of @chuck-berry.bsky.social's birth, we also celebrate the @brucespringsteen.net Center's recent daylong symposium/concert. Click below for more. (📸 by Matthew Geller / @monmouthuniversity.bsky.social - used w/ permission) www.letterstoyou.net/post/on-toda...

3h ago

bryanhouston.bsky.social

@bryanhouston.bsky.social

Song of the day, in honor of Chuck Berry's 100th birthday on October 18, 1926. His debut hit "Maybelline". youtu.be/2YOqZE7yLkY?...

3h ago

3 sources

dailykos.comRoll over, Beethoven: Chuck Berry’s in the house cnnbrasil.com.br100 anos de Chuck Berry: como um negro do Missouri moldou o rock | CNN Brasil letterstoyou.netOn today's official centennial, here's our wrapup of the Springsteen Center's CHUCK BERRY @100 event

Chuck Berry celebrated on his 100th birthdaymusic

Chuck Berry celebrated on his 100th birthday

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