Ten Great Performances Of "Johnny B. Goode" To Celebrate The Song's Anniversary

At a time when Black music was helping to break down racial barriers, one artist stood at the crux of two vastly different cultures: Chuck Berry. Alongside other trailblazers like Little Richard, Berry helped create the genre of rock and roll by adapting a legacy of blues music to a wider audience. Between his catchy riffs and his on-stage persona, anyone who plays guitar today would cite Berry as an influence—or failing that, their influences would. He’s that ubiquitous.

While Berry scored many hits during his career, none resound quite as much as the tale of “Johnny B. Goode”. The rockin’ legend of the country boy was released on this date 66 years ago, on March 31st, 1958, as a single with “Around & Around” as the B-Side. Partly autobiographical (according to Berry), the song has been covered by hundreds of musicians and even played a role in the hit film, Back To The Future.

In honor of the “Johnny B. Goode” milestone, here are some of our favorite renditions of the song.

Jimi Hendrix