Chess records building
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Chess Records
American record label (1950–1975)
For records achieved in the game of chess, see List of world records in chess.
Record label
Chess Records was an American record company established in 1950 in Chicago, specializing in blues and rhythm and blues. It was the successor to Aristocrat Records, founded in 1947. It expanded into soul music, gospel music, early rock and roll, and jazz and comedy recordings, released on the Chess and its subsidiary labels Checker and Argo/Cadet. The Chess catalogue is owned by Universal Music Group and managed by Geffen Records and Universal Music Enterprises.
Established and run by two Jewish immigrant brothers from what was then Poland, Leonard and Phil Chess, the company produced and released many singles and albums regarded as central to the rock music canon. The musician and critic Cub Koda described Chess as "America's greatest blues label".[1]
Chess was based at several locations on the south side of Chicago, initially at South Cottage Grove Ave.[2] The most famous was 2120 S. Michigan Avenue, from May 1
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Founded in 1950, Chess Records captured a vibrant new style of American music with roots in the American South that influenced and inspired rock and roll pioneers from Chuck Berry to the Rolling Stones. It has become synonymous with American rhythm and blues.
Leonard and Phil Chess, immigrants from Poland, began recording acts performing at their Club Macambo at 3905 Cottage Grove after World War II. In 1947 the brothers formed the Aristocrat Record Corporation, which reorganized in 1950 when they left the nightclub business to concentrate on making records as the Chess Recording Company. They added a subsidiary blues label, Checker, in 1952.
Located in the heart of Bronzeville at 4750 Cottage Grove, the Chess Company was well established by 1954, featuring blues and R&B hits by Muddy Waters, Howlin' Wolf, Little Walter, Sonny Boy Williamson, Gene Ammons, and Willie Mabon.
In 1956 the Chess brothers diversified into jazz recording under the Argo label, retaining a crack produ
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Chess Records
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Leonard and Phil Chess, two Polish born immigrants, founded Chess Records the pre-eminent Blues label of the 50s and 60s.Eventually they created a monopoly of Chicago music recording, doing sessions and releasing recordings by every major blues performer from John Lee Hooker, Elmore James, "King of the Slide Guitar," to Bo Diddley through Jimmy Reed, Chuck Berry and everyone in between.
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Brothers Phil and Leonard Chess owned the upscale Macamba.night club on Chicago's Southside. Chess Records "Home of the Electric Blues" was started by brothers Leonard and Phil Chess in the late forties. Leonard and Phil Chess - two enterprising immi
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