St. Louis statue honors music legend Chuck Berry

UNIVERSITY CITY, Mo. - July 29, 2011 (WPVI) -- A statue of the father of rock `n' roll now stands across the street from the small club where Chuck Berry still performs.

The 8-foot-tall likeness of Berry was dedicated Friday in the University City Loop area in suburban St. Louis.

Berry, who is 84, is a St. Louis native whose staccato guitar licks and countless hits paved the way for the genre. Sculptor Harry Weber called Berry "a legend that will endure through several generations."

He already has, pioneering rock `n roll in the 1950s and still performing monthly at Blueberry Hill on the Loop.

Friday's ceremony included recorded messages from other music legends, including Little Richard, who called Berry "the greatest entertainer in the world."

Berry kept his remarks brief, saying he's a singer, not a speaker.

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missouri, st. louis, music, chuck berry, entertainment

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