Chess Records Recording Studio

Chess Records Recording Studio. . , In 1947, two nightclub businessmen, Leonard and Philip Chess, partnered with Aristocrat Records to start recording some of the artists who had performed at Chess' various Chicago southside nightclubs. The brothers unleashed some of the otherwise untapped talent of Chicago's most famous Blues, Jazz and Rock musicians. Prior to the Chess brothers' involvement in the industry, no one recorded or promoted these performers properly. In 1950, the Chess brothers reorganized the company and renamed it Chess Records., The 50s and '60s were the prime years for Chess Records. Artists such as Muddy Waters, Chuck Berry. Howlin' Wolf, Etta James, Willie Dixon, Little Walter, Sonny Boy Williams and Elmore James flourished under the label or its subsidiary like Checker, Argo, and Cadet. In 1948, Muddy Waters recorded "Rollin' Stones Blues” here, a song that inspired Jimi Hendrix, Bob Dylan, and the creators of Rolling Stones Magazine. Artists such as the Yardbirds and the Who would craft much of their style and material from recordings made in these studios. The Rolling Stones made the address immortal in an instrumental song entitled 2120 South Michigan. Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Louis and Buddy Holly, to name a few, copied sound produced here to catapult their own careers into the stratosphere. They indeed paid homage to the greatness of these musicians who recorded in this studio., In 1911, Horatio Wilson designed this two-story brick building for the sale and storage of automobile parts. In 1957, John S. Townsend, Jr. and Jack S. Wiener remodeled the building for Chess Records. They outfitted the building with a recording studio, executive offices and 50s-style colors and "snappy" finishes., Although modest in size and stature, the creativity within the walls of 2120 South Michigan was huge. Undoubtedly, Chess Records was the most productive and exciting recording studio in Chicago history. On May 16, 1990, the building was designated a Chicago Landmark. ,