Phil Chess | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Fiszel Czyż |
| Born | (1921-03-27)March 27, 1921 Motal,Poland (nowBelarus) |
| Died | October 18, 2016(2016-10-18) (aged 95) Tucson, Arizona, U.S. |
| Genres | Chicago blues,electric blues,blues,rock and roll,R&B,soul music |
| Occupation | Record company executive |
| Years active | 1950–1972 |
| Labels | Chess Records |
Philip Chess (bornFiszel Czyż; March 27, 1921 – October 18, 2016) was a Polish-born American record company executive, the founder ofChess Records alongside his brotherLeonard.[1]
Chess was born to aPolish-Jewish family[2] in the village ofMotal, then in eastern Poland and now part of Belarus.[3] He and his brother Lejzor, sister Malka and mother followed their father toChicago in 1928. The family name was changed to Chess, with Lejzor becomingLeonard and Fiszel becoming Philip.[4]
Chess served in the army during World War II. In 1946, after leaving the Army, Phil joined Leonard in running a popular club, theMacomba Lounge. Two years later, Leonard became a partner inAristocrat Records, a local company that recorded a wide range of music,[5] and Phil joined in 1950. The company then changed its name toChess Records, and began concentrating onR&B music, signing and recording artists such asMuddy Waters,Bo Diddley,"Sonny Boy Williamson" (Rice Miller),Robert Lockwood Jr.,Etta James,Willie Dixon,Howlin Wolf andChuck Berry.[6][7] Phil Chess was actively involved in producing many of their blues androck and roll recordings. The company expanded successfully through the 1950s and early 1960s, until it was sold toGRT in 1969.
Chess was also a co-founder with his brother of L & P Broadcasting, which operated radio stationWSDM.[8]
Phil Chess retired to Arizona in 1972.[9] Phil and Leonard Chess were both inducted to theBlues Hall of Fame as non-performers in 1995. In February 2013, Phil Chess attended the ceremony to receive one ofThe Recording Academy's Trustees Awards for non-performers presented to him and his brother.[10]
Chess died at his home inTucson, Arizona, at the age of 95.[11][6]
