Chess Records Office and Studio

“While Chess produced many significant jazz and gospel recordings its innovative blues recordings launched its miraculous elevation from small company producing specialty records to an internationally regarded leader in the recording industry. a From the earliest Aristocrat sessions in 1947, the Chess brothers made their label a creative forum for the the rugged, emotional sound of the "Delta" or "country" blues, which had its origins in the distinctive style of musicians from the Mississippi Delta.”

“While occupied by the Sammy Dyer School, the first floor was retained for office use, and the former studio spaces were converted for dance and theatrical use. In 1980, the building was acquired from the Chess family by former Chess musician Gerald Sims, who rents out the first floor to a private business and has re-equipped the second floor as a working recording studio, which retains the general form of the original spaces once occupied by the famous performers who recorded there.”

“A a The building itself was originally erected in 1911 as commercial investment property by Chicago real estate broker Matson Hill, and was designed by architect Horatio Wilson (1857-1917) whose practice encompassed a wide variety of commercial and residential projects in the city. narrow party-wall building, the 25-foot frontage on Michigan Avenue was clad in an elaborately detailed facing of architectural terra cotta with a large storefront at the first floor.”

“On the interior, set back behind the show-windows, was bank of ornamental glass and redwood display shelves upon which the latest Chess records were displayed. The first floor was planned for the executive offices of the firm, the corridors having wood and glass partitions, and the offices themselves finished in redwood paneling and plaster.”

“While Chess is widely known for its recordings in the blues and rock 'n' roll, the firm produced recordings in a range of other subjects. From its earliest years of operation, Chess maintained a significant catalogue of jazz material, and recorded performers such as Ramsey Lewis, Ahmad Jamal, and Sonny Stitt.”

“In forming their now-famous band, the group took their name from Muddy Water's 1950 recording "Rolling Stone" which was one of the first releases on the Chess label.”

“Chess was not the only small independent label to achieve success in the 1950s and 1960s, nor was it the only label to have an impact on the blues and rock 'n' roll, but the creativity of its management and recording artists gave the company an unquestionably elevated status among contemporary record labels and earned the firm a significant niche in the history of recorded music.”

“The largest of these was the Macomba Lounge which he opened with Phil in 1946 at 3905 South Drexel Boulevard. Leonard Chess' son Marshall later recalled the Macomba Lounge as being a "rough place", but its live entertainment included such notable performers as Billy Eckstein, Gene Ammons, Ella Fitzgerald, and Jump Jackson.”

“Its origins go back to founders Leonard and Phil Chess, sons of an immigrant family, who established themselves in the operation of nightclubs on Chicago's South Side in the 1940s.”