His recording career began in 1955 with the legendary Chess label in Chicago, where his first release Maybellene, became one of rock and roll's first hits.

In the next few years, he scored a succession of hits, all aimed at an adolescent audience, including Roll Over Beethoven, Sweet Little Sixteen, Carol and the classic Johnny B. Goode.

His music transcended the colour bar that plagued many contemporary black artists as affluent white teenagers in Eisenhower's America reached out for something new.

I wonder if his final album will be released in the coming weeks?