Editing Leonard Chess (section)

== Chess Records ==
Leonard and his brother [[Phil Chess|Phil]] became involved in the black nightclub scene on the [[South Side, Chicago|South Side of Chicago]] in 1938 running a series of jazz clubs, culminating in the [[Macomba Lounge]].<ref>[[Peter Guralnick|Guralnick, Peter]], ''I Feel like Going Home'', 1971, p. 219</ref> In 1947, Leonard became associated with [[Aristocrat Records]], increasing his share in the company over time; eventually he and Phil would acquire complete control. The Chess brothers moved the company away from black pop and jazz and other genres into down home blues music with artists such as [[Muddy Waters]].<ref>{{Pop Chronicles|4|2}}</ref> In 1950, the Chess brothers renamed the company  [[Chess Records]]. "[[My Foolish Heart (song)|My Foolish Heart]]" ([[Gene Ammons]]), "[[Rollin' Stone (Muddy Waters song)|Rollin' Stone]]" ([[Muddy Waters]]), and "[[That's All Right (Jimmy Rogers song)|That's All Right]]" ([[Jimmy Rogers]]) were among the first releases on the new label. Leonard Chess played [[bass drum]] on one of Muddy Waters' sessions in 1951, specifically on the tracks "She Moves Me" and "Still A Fool".{{sfn|Palmer|1982|p=164/5}}

Chess contacted [[Sam Phillips]] (of [[Sun Records]]) to help find and record new artists from the South. Phillips supplied Chess with recordings by [[Howlin' Wolf]], [[Rufus Thomas]], and [[Doctor Ross]] among others. Of these, Howlin' Wolf in particular became very popular, and Chess Records had to vie for him with other companies which had also been supplied with Wolf recordings by Phillips. In time, other important artists signed with Chess Records, including [[Bo Diddley]] and [[Sonny Boy Williamson II|Sonny Boy Williamson]], while [[Willie Dixon]] and [[Robert Lockwood Jr.]] took on a significant role behind the scenes. In the 1950s, Chess Records' commercial success grew with artists such as [[Little Walter]], [[The Moonglows]], [[The Flamingos]], and [[Chuck Berry]], and in the '60s with [[Etta James]], [[Fontella Bass]], [[Koko Taylor]], [[Little Milton]], [[Laura Lee (singer-songwriter)|Laura Lee]], and [[Tommy Tucker (singer)|Tommy Tucker]], as well as with the subsidiary labels [[Checker Records|Checker]], [[Argo Records|Argo]], and [[Cadet Records|Cadet]]. As the 1960s progressed, Chess's recording enterprise branched out into other genres including gospel, traditional jazz, spoken word, comedy, and more. In the early 1960s, Chess became involved in the broadcasting business as part owner of [[WVON|WVON-AM]] radio and later acquired [[WCKL (FM)|WSDM-FM]], both in Chicago.