The Chicago Sun Times is reporting that music industry pioneer and legend Phil Chess has passed away at the age of 95 in Tucson, AZ. His death was confirmed by his nephew Craig Glicken. As the co-founder of Chess Records, he is widely credited with help invent the sound that became rock ‘n roll. In fact, many consider Chess Records to have released the very first rock ‘n roll record, Rocket ’88 by Jackie Brenston and His Delta Cats.
Chess recorded seminal artists like Muddy Waters, Etta James, Buddy Guy, Howlin’ Wolf, Chuck Berry, John Lee Hooker, Bo Diddley and much more. Along with his brother Leonard, the label spread blues music to the masses around the world. At the time a niche genre, blues was cross-pollinated with pop music to create rock music.
Chess was born in Poland in 1921, and eventually emigrated to the United States, landing in Chicago in 1928, where his father changed the family name from Czyż to Chess. After his brother purchased a stake in Aristocrat Records, Phil joined on, founding what would soon become known as Chess Records.
Just a few of the landmark records released by Chess include Muddy Waters’ “Rollin’ Stone,” Bo Diddley’s “Bo Diddley” and Chuck Berry’s “Johnny B. Goode.” Chess Records abroad is also the stuff of legends, inspiring artists like The Rolling Stones (who named an instrumental track on their album 12 x 5and their myriad imitators by shipping American Blues into the United Kingdom.
His brother passed away in 1969 at the age of 52, and Phil continued to helm the label until his retirement from the music industry in the 70s. Phil and Leonard Chess have been inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame and in 2013, Phil won the Recording Academy’s Trustee Award.
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