Chuck Berry: Life in pictures

Guitarists Bo Diddley (with his trademark square Gretsch electric guitar on the left) and Chuck Berry (on the right) perform at Madison Square Garden in the concert movie ‘Let the Good Times Roll’ on May 6, 1972 in New York City.

Rock and roll guitarist Chuck Berry performs his “duck walk” as he plays his electric hollowbody guitar at the TAMI Show on December 29, 1964 at the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium in Santa Monica, California. Other performers included James Browm, The Rolling Stones, The Beatles and Jan & Dean.

Chuck Berry during rehearsals in St Louis while filming of the documentary “Hail! Hail! Rock ‘n’ Roll.”

Chuck Berry, with guitarist Keith Richards of the Rolling Stones, celebrated Berry’s birthday on stage with a special concert at the Fox Theatre in St. Louis on Oct. 17, 1986.  (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

Chuck Berry poses next to his guitar shape, birthday cake after his performance at the the St. Louis Fox Theatre in Missouri on October 17, 1986.   (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

A Hollywood tour bus displays ‘We Love Chuck’ signs as it drives past a ceremony giving Chuck Berry his Hollywood Walk of Fame star on Oct. 8, 1987. Berry, left, can be seen performing the “duck walk” he made famous.

Chuck Berry headlined the Long Beach Blues Festival on Sept. 21, 1992.

Chuck Berry shares a moment onstage in 1995 with Bruce Springsteen, one of countless rockers influenced by Berry’s career.

Rock and roll pioneers, from left, Chuck Berry, Bo Diddley and Little Richard at the 50th Annual BMI Pop Awards on May 14, 2002, in Beverly Hills. The trio received the inaugural BMI Icon Award.

Chuck Berry was joined on stage by happy audience members during his last song as he performed at the annual Hootenanny Festival at Oak Canyon Ranch outside of L.A. on July 6, 1997.  (Glenn Koenig / Los Angeles Times)

At 83, Chuck Berry headlined the Hootenany Festival at Live Oak Canyon in Silverado Canyon on July 3, 2010.

Chuck Berry, seen performing at the 2009 Monte Carlo Rock’ N Rose Ball in Monte Carlo, Monaco. Berry was born Oct. 18, 1926 in St. Louis. He found success after visiting Chicago in 1955 and recording for the legendary Chess records label.