Chuck Berry better than Elvis.?

Question

I personallly think Chuck Berry was a better musician than Elvis. He was one of the first people to have songs be solely based on guitar riffs( I think Muddy waters was the first) and he wrote his on music unlike Elvis who agrees with me that Chuck Berry should replace Elvis as the King of Rock n Roll

Answer 1

Elvis was a manufactured artist much like the Monkeys were. He did not author the majority of his songs. He did have EXCELLENT SIDEMEN in his band as did Chuck Berry. A great entertainer Elvis was but so is Justin Timberlake to some.

Chuck Berry was and is all original, blemishes and all. Many musicians say they were influenced by Elvis but when asked what was the influence were it was the persona on stage NOT what he played or how he played it.

There are plenty of guys imitating Elvis in costume and singing big momma thorntons "Hound Dog". There's a hell of allot more guitarists imitating Chuck Berry's riffs, rhythm and solos!

Originality, showmanship, contribution to the art? Those factors Favor Chuck Berry all day long.

Answer 2

Chuck Berry was the King of Rock and Roll. Elvis got big by covering "Thats Alright, Mama" which was an R&B tune. Chuck Berry made his own music, like you said. While Elvis was great, Chuck Berry was greater. Well put.

Personally I think Elvis got big back then for the same reason a lot of people who really shouldn't be big but are today. They have a pretty face. Its sad music is based more on looks than how it actually sounds. America is a very material society. Who cares how pretty they look or how well they perform while on stage? Thats Broadway, not Rock and Roll.

Answer 3

Elvis was 10 times a better singer. Elvis died at age 42 and his influence was far greater than Chuck Berry's influence and Chuck has had 87 years and counting. Elvis is one of the bets selling artists of all time and Chuck isn't even in the top 10. Elvis spent years in the army. Chuck spent years in Jail for trying to have sex with an underage girl. Elvis was a nice humble person. Chuck has an ego the size of Texas and once punched Keith Richards in the mouth for no reason.

Ask the Beatles who was the best. They all said Elvis. Chuck did some great music but was never close to as big a star as Elvis.

Answer 4

Chuck Berry was defiantly better than Elvis ever could be, all Elvis had going for him was his hips and others music which both contributed to the entertainment factor. Chuck was one of the first to base his songs solely on guitar riffs with Muddy Waters being the first as you said.
Another interesting item is when they sent a satellite in to space identifying the human race, picture DNA explanation etc. they sent Chuck Berry music not Elvis'.
So "the King is dead, long live Chuck Berry".

Answer 5

I love Elvis with a great passion but not as much as Chuck Berry.

Answer 6

I would rather listen to Chuck Berry any day, but the question of "who is king?," is another matter. Compared to genres like blues and jazz, rock'n'roll is pretty shallow and thus deserves a musically shallow king. Elvis fits that bill quite nicely. Chuck Berry was more of the soul of rock'n'roll which I think is better.

Hail! Hail! Rock'n'roll!

Answer 7

I've always liked Chuck Berry better than Elvis... but I could be just a little biased because we share the same last name lol.

Answer 8

Berry was a better musician clearly...But Elvis was a way better entertainer.

Answer 9

Chuck Berry was good.... but no one can beat The King!
Merry Christmas

Answer 10

I think Chuck should as well. Actually, I think Little Richard is a better rocker also. Jimi Hendrix had the biggest impact on electric rock guitar though, IMO.