Rock n’ roll pioneer Chuck Berry is celebrating his birthday in an impressive way by announcing plans to release his first album in 38 years.
According to Rolling Stone, Berry will release Chuck in 2017. The album is the first project from the legend since 1979’s Rock It. Written and produced entirely by the artist himself, the project is also a family affair. Listeners will hear his daughter Ingrid Berry on the harmonica and his go-to’s Jimmy Marsala (bassist), Robert Lohr (pianist) and Keith Robinson (drummer.)”What an honor to be part of this new music,” his son and guitarist Charles Berry Jr. said in a statement. “The St. Louis band, or as dad called us ‘the Blueberry Hill Band,’ fell right into the groove and followed his lead. These songs cover the spectrum from hard driving rockers to soulful thought provoking time capsules of a life’s work.”
Berry dedicated the album to his wife of 68 years, Themetta Berry. “This record is dedicated to my beloved Toddy,” he said in a statement. “My darlin’, I’m growing old! I’ve worked on this record for a long time. Now I can hang up my shoes!”
As for the large musical gap, Berry said he wanted the music to live up the high expectations he’s acquired in his lengthy career. Since formatting the blueprint for rock as well as rhythm and blues in the ’50s, Berry has released 19 studio albums and 11 live albums.