Some highlights, awards and achievements of rock 'n' roll pioneer Chuck Berry:
1952: Berry plays in a house band with Tommy Stevens at a place called Huff's Garden in St. Louis, Mo.; later that year, pianist Johnnie Johnson is asked to join the Sir John's Trio at the Cosmopolitan.
1955: Berry drives to Chicago, meets Muddy Waters and lands a recording contract with Chess Records. Berry releases "Maybellene."
1957: Berry embarks on the "Biggest Show of Stars for '57" with Buddy Holly, the Drifters, Frankie Lymon & the Teenagers, and the Everly Brothers.
1961: Berryland, an amusement park outside of St. Louis, opens.
1964: Berry performs in the Teen-Age Music International (TAMI) concert with the Rolling Stones, James Brown, Smokey Robinson & the Miracles, and the Beach Boys.
1972: "The London Chuck Berry Sessions" lands at No. 8 on the Billboard 200, making it Berry's biggest-selling album; "My Ding-a-Ling" (originally called "My Tambouring") becomes his first and only No. 1 hit.
1978: Berry appears as himself in the film "American Hot Wax."
1979: He performs for President Jimmy Carter in the White House at the president's request.
1982: Berry inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Association's International Hall of Fame.
1985: He receives the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 27th annual Grammy Awards.
1986: Berry inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
1987: He publishes "Chuck Berry: The Autobiography." The film "Hail! Hail! Rock and Roll!" — a Chuck Berry tribute film — is released. He receives a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
1989: Berry receives a star on Delmar Boulevard in St. Louis.
1995: He performs "Johnny B. Goode" with Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band at a concert for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
2002: Berry receives the BMI Icon award, along with Little Richard and Bo Diddley.