Chess Records

Chicago Chicago attracted black Americans from the south with the promise of plentiful, good paying jobs that didn’t require a lot of skill. Most of the work was dangerous and grueling, usually in meat packing. Chicago was considered the “Hog Butcher for the World.”

Chicago Tangential to the influx of laborers, Chicago also attracted blues musicians from the Mississippi Delta region hoping to find work playing in Chicago’s plentiful clubs in Cottage Grove.

Leonard Chess Chess Brothers migrated to Chicago from Poland in 1928. Started working in the scrap metal business, then opened a liquor store. Opened the Macaba Lounge in the Cottage Grove neighborhood of Chicago.

Leonard Chess In 1947 the Chess brothers got into the record business by buying into the newly forming Aristocrat Records. They would eventually buy complete ownership of the label.

The Early Artists

Muddy Waters Born McKinley Morganfeld April 4, 1913 (would have been 99 last week) in Mississippi. Emulated the style of Son House and Robert Johnson. Worked at Stovall Plantation in his youth and later operated a juke joint there.

Muddy Waters Moved to Chicago in 1943 after making a short stay in 1940. Worked in a factory and drove a truck by day, performed at night. Started by performing at “rent parties.”

Muddy Waters Quickly graduated to performing in clubs. Acoustic guitar couldn’t be heard above the noise. In 1945 his uncle Joe Grant gave him his first electric guitar. First artist to employ the modern rock band lineup

Muddy Waters Quickly graduated to performing in clubs. Acoustic guitar couldn’t be heard above the noise. In 1945 his uncle Joe Grant gave him his first electric guitar.

Muddy Waters Muddy’s first Aristocrat hit came in 1948: “I Can’t Be Satisfied.” Muddy would go on to become the face of the label.

Little Walter Born Marion Walter Jacobs, May 1, 1930 Joined Muddy Waters’ band in 1948 at the age of 18 Made the first known recording of amplified harmonica for Chess, Muddy Waters’ “Country Boy,” 1952

Little Walter Left Muddy’s band in 1952 but continued to record as a sideman for Muddy and other Chess artists, as well as solo material Known for his short temper and numerous run-ins with the the law Comparisons to Charlie Parker and Jimi Hendrix due to his influence on the intrument

Howlin’ Wolf Born Chester Arthur Burnett, June 10, 1910 Started his career at Sun Records in Memphis* Relocated to Chicago and signed with Chess in 1952 *We will learn about Sun Records in our next unit

Howlin’ Wolf Initial recordings included five Billboard R&B Chart appearances Found a new audience among white counterculture in the 1960’s thanks to his music being covered by bands such as The Rolling Stones and Led Zeppelin

Howlin’ Wolf In contrast to Little Walter and other more troubled Chess artists, The Wolf was very straight-laced He attracted band members in his early days by paying his musicians well and on time, even withholding social security contributions. He drove a station wagon and lived in a modest home, tried to teach younger artists financial responsibility.

Willie Dixon Born in Mississippi in 1915. His mother had a habit of rhyming things she said which Willie would imitate. Moved to Chicago in 1936 with aspirations of becoming a boxer and worked as Joe Lewis’s sparring partner. Quit boxing after four fights and took up music.

Willie Dixon Started playing the washtub bass and performing in clubs. His bass playing was stalled during WWII when he resisted the draft as a conscientious objector and was imprisoned for ten months.

Willie Dixon In 1950 Willie started working for Chess as a songwriter, session musician, producer, and talent scout. Willie was known for being the only Chess artist to stand up to Leonard Chess for his business practices, which notoriously included paying musicians in Cadillacs instead of publishing royalties.

Rocket 88 In 1951, Chess released “Rocket 88,” considered by many to be the first rock and roll record. Recorded in Memphis, TN. Credited to Jackie Brenston and His Delta Cats Real name was Ike Turner’s Kings of Rhythm Yes, that Ike Turner. Let us not speak of him again.

Willie Dixon From 1950-1965, Willie Dixon wrote hit songs for nearly every Chess artist http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_songs_written_by_Willie_Dixon

The Studio In the early days, Chess recorded at Bill Putnam’s Universal Studios. Leonard knew he needed to vertically integrate and in 1956 sought out his own studio space. The space was found directly across the street from Batt’s Restaurant, the favorite hangout of the Chess crew.

The Studio Leonard and Phil decided to relocate to Record Row, a section of Michigan Ave. swarming with studios, rehearsal spaces, labels and distributors. Labels with offices there included: Mercury, Capitol, Brunswick, King, One-Derful, Constellation, and Vee- Jay, Chess’s arch rival.

The Studio Built in 1911, 2021 South Michigan was a long and narrow space, The studio space being 20’ x 37’. Jack Weiner, a mastering engineer from Universal, was plucked to design the room. Weiner learned everything he knew about room design from Bill Putnam.

The Studio The studio space was on the second floor. Weiner covered the original wood with cork, then laid concrete over it. The walls were spring mounted to prevent vibrations from the street. The south wall had a set of 9 panels that could be open for an dead sound or closed for a live sound. Two echo chambers were built in the basement.

Chuck Berry Born October 18,1926 in St. Louis, MO. Grew up middle class allowing him to pursue music from an early age Started playing with pianist and future Chess musician Johnnie Johnson in 1953

Chuck Berry Chuck had developed an aptitude for country music as well as blues and started exploring a fusion of the two genres. His country-blues mixture was a hit with both black and white audiences around the midwest.

Chuck Berry In 1955 moved to Chicago and met Muddy Waters who recommended him to Leonard Chess. His first hit for Chess was “Maybellene,” a variation on the country tune “Ida Red” The song sold 1 million copies thanks in part to Cleveland disc jockey Alan Freed.

Chuck Berry Alan Freed was credited with inventing the term “rock and roll” and was one of the first major proponents of integration in the music industry, which earned him the ire of many conservative parents, especially in the South. In 1959, Freed was indicted for accepting payola. It was revealed during the investigation he had received songwriting credit on “Maybellene” in exchange for radio play.

Chuck Berry Berry would have many more hits and become an established star by the end of the 1950’s thanks to his ability to market to white teenagers. In December 1959 he was arrested under the Mann Act for transporting a minor across state lines. After serving 18 months in prison, he found his star power greatly diminished.

Bo Diddley Born Elias Bates (later McDaniel) December 30,1928 in McComb, MI and moved to Chicago at age 6. Joined Chess in March of 1955. Along with Chuck Berry, Bo Diddley would be instrumental in the evolution of rock and roll from the blues.

Bo Diddley Whereas Chuck Berry fused the blues with country, Bo Diddley introduced African and Latin rhythms, in particular his trademark clave beat. He also made revolutionary use of electronic guitar effects. Continuously included women in his bands

Etta James Born Jamesetta Hawkins, January 25, 1938 in Los Angeles. Started performing at 14 with Johnny Otis, started touring with Little Richard in 1955. Left her original label Modern Records for Chess in 1960.

Etta James Originally marketed as a blues artist, Etta was instrumental in pushing the label into pop music territory in the 1960’s.

In 1969, the Chess brothers sold the label to General Recorded Tape (GRT) Phil Chess left the company after the sale. Leonard Chess died in October of that year. The label finally had its first and only Billboard Hot 100 hit, Chuck Berry’s “My Ding-a-Ling,” in 1972.

In 1975 Chess was sold to All Platinum Records The catalog was unavailable in the 1980’s until Leonard’s son Marshall Chess convinced All Platinum to reissue it. All Platinum was acquired by MCA, which eventually became Universal, where the Chess catalog now resides.