<back - CHESS RECORDS - The most influential Blues label ever is Chess/Checker Records. It’s quite unlikely one can discuss Blues without mention of this timeless label founded 1947 by Leonard and Phil Chess. First generation immigrants, the Chess brothers owned several southside Chicago establishments and were eager to record the excitement generated by the performers—mainly 30’s and 40’s migrants from the Mississippi delta. The first one they recorded was McKinley Morganfield—known professionally as Muddy Waters, on the Aristocrat label. Muddy’s 'Rollin’ Stone' was a huge success and it started the ball rolling. In late 1949, the Chess family bought out Aristocrat, renamed it Chess, and for the next 20 years they gave the world the music that the “major labels” were unwilling to provide. Muddy Waters would be the focal point:

His contributions to the evolution of electrified Blues can’t be exaggerated. He was also directly responsible for drawing a host of brilliant Mississippi Bluesmen to Chicago, the likes of Little Walter, Howlin’ Wolf, Sonny Boy Williamson, Otis Spann, and countless others. They all recorded for Chess, as did such legendary post-War Bluesmen as Jimmy Rogers, Lowell Fulson, Memphis Slim, and Willie Dixon. Plus such essential next generation artists like Buddy Guy, Koko Taylor, and Little Milton. Hundreds of others recorded for Chess, many only on one or two sessions: John Lee Hooker,  JB Lenoir, Albert King, Elmore James, Aretha Franklin, Jimmy McCracklin and even Rockabilly legend Dale Hawkins. When a young Chuck Berry ventured to Chi-town in 1955, it was Muddy who set up the session where 'Maybellene' happened: one of the watersheds in Rock ‘n Roll history. Berry, an original inductee into the Rock ‘n Roll Hall Of Fame, was Chess’ most successful crossover artist and became a fixture on the Pop charts for years. An equally influential artist was Bo Diddley, whose mind-blowing 'Bo Diddley b/w I’m A Man' from 1955 brought a new rhythmic template to the table. Willie Dixon steered virtually all sessions, with his enduring compositional contributions to Howlin’ Wolf, Muddy Waters, Koko Taylor, Buddy Guy, making him the acknowledged modern Blues craftsman. Chess went beyond a Blues label; it avidly recorded a wide array of other popular genres. Two of the greatest R&B groups from the 50’s: Moonglows (Sincerely) and Flamingos (I Only Have Eyes For You) were on their roster. Their Argo subsidiary was heavily into Jazz. In 1959 Leonard Chess even hired Ralph Bass away from King Records to become A&R head for their fledgling R&B division. Ralph brought in Billy Davis who revived Etta James’ faltering career: Her 1960’s Chess sides would set the standards for female soul singers. The label was sold to General Recorded Tape in 1969, but Leonard Chess, who was still intended to run the operation died that same year. By 1975, Chess was reduced to issuing catalogue compilations. The number of artists in Blues and every genre, who continue to be influenced by Chess is limitless.-Gary Tate
CHESS CLASSICS: Mp3- Spoonful | Juke | BooM BooM | Don't Start Me To Talkin' | Killin' Floor