Phil Chess, Chess Records Co-Founder, Dead at 95

Phil Chess, who co-founded the iconic blues label Chess Records with his brother Leonard Chess, died yesterday at his home in Tucson, Arizona, The Chicago Sun-Times reports. He was 95.

Born Fiszel Czyż, Chess’ family immigrated to Chicago from Poland in 1928. After he left the Army, Chess joined his brother as a partner in Aristocrat Records, which they later renamed Chess. Their label was home to legendary blues, R&B, and rock’n’roll artists including Chuck Berry, Bo Diddley, Muddy Waters, Etta James, Howlin’ Wolf, Buddy Guy, Willie Dixon, Elmore James, John Lee Hooker, and many others.

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