Chuck Berry partners with Nashville's Dualtone Records for first album in decades

Chuck Berry will team with Nashville-based Dualtone Records to release his first studio album in 38 years in 2017.

Berry announced the new album, "Chuck," on Tuesday, his 90th birthday. He said the album is dedicated to Themetta Berry, his wife of 68 years.

"This record is dedicated to my beloved Toddy," Berry said in a media release. "My darlin' I'm growing old! I've worked on this record for a long time. Now I can hang up my shoes!"

Dualtone has a track record of partnering with iconic artists, previously releasing albums by June Carter Cash and Guy Clark. The East Nashville label is home to popular Americana artists the Lumineers and Shovels and Rope, among others.

"It is a great honor to be a part of this record and the broader legacy of Chuck Berry," Dualtone President Paul Roper said. "This body of work stands with the best of his career and will further cement Chuck as one of the greatest icons of rock and roll."

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Berry is widely viewed as among the most influential artists on rock and roll with hits like "Johnny B Goode," "Never Can Tell," and "Roll Over Beethoven." He was inducted into the inaugural Rock and Roll Hall of Fame class of 1986.

Berry's son, Chuck Berry Jr., described the new music as covering a wide spectrum from hard-driving "rockers to soulful, thoughtful time capsules of a life's work."

"What an honor to be part of this new music," said Charles Berry Jr. "The St. Louis band, or as dad called us 'The Blueberry Hill Band,' fell right into the groove and followed his lead."

Reach Nate Rau at 615-259-8094 and follow him on Twitter @tnnaterau.