Leonard Chess

Leonard Chess (born March 12, 1917, Motule, Poland—died October 16, 1969, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.) was a Polish-born American record producer whose record label, Chess Records, helped define the Chicago blues sound and also disseminated some of the earliest rock and roll recordings. He immigrated to the United States in 1928 with his mother, sister, and brother—and future partner—Fiszel (later Philip); they joined his father, who had preceded them, in Chicago. After working at several trades,...