Phil Chess
Phil Chess | |
---|---|
Birth name | Fiszel Czyż |
Born | R&B, soul music | March 27, 1921
Occupation(s) | Record company executive |
Years active | 1950–1972 |
Labels | Chess |
Philip Chess (born Fiszel Czyż; March 27, 1921 – October 18, 2016) was a Polish-born American record producer and company executive, the co-founder with his brother of Chess Records.[1]
Early life
Chess was born to a Polish-Jewish family[2] in the village of Motal, then in eastern Poland and now part of Belarus.[3] He and his brother Lejzor, sister Malka and mother followed their father to Chicago in 1928. The family name was changed to Chess, with Lejzor becoming Leonard and Fiszel becoming Philip.[4]
Career
Chess served in the army during World War II. In 1946, after leaving the Army, Phil joined Leonard in running a popular club, the
Chess was also a co-founder with his brother of L & P Broadcasting, which operated radio station WSDM.[8]
Retirement
Phil Chess retired to Arizona in 1972.[9] Phil and Leonard Chess were both inducted to the Blues Hall of Fame as non-performers in 1995. In February 2013, Phil Chess attended the ceremony to receive one of The Recording Academy's Trustees Awards for non-performers presented to him and his brother.[10]
Death
Chess died at his home in Tucson, Arizona, at the age of 95.[11][6]
References
- ISBN 978-0-252-03290-5.
- ^ Bloom, Nate (December 5, 2008). "Jewish Stars". Cleveland Jewish News.
- ^ McArdle, Terence (October 20, 2016). "Phil Chess, co-founder of music label that brought blues to the world, dies at 95". The Washington Post.
- ^ "Spinning Blues Into Gold, by Nadine Cohodas". Bluestogold.com. Archived from the original on 2017-02-04. Retrieved 2013-07-07.
- ^ Campbell, Robert L.; Pruter, Robert; White, George R.; Kelly, Tom; Paulus, George. "The Aristocrat Label". Retrieved July 7, 2013.
- ^ a b Martin, Douglas (19 October 2016). "Phil Chess, Whose Record Label Elevated Unknown Blues Musicians, Dies at 95". The New York Times. Retrieved 20 October 2016.
- ISSN 0006-2510.
- ISSN 0006-2510.
- ISSN 0006-2510.
- ^ Downey, Ryan J. (February 10, 2013). "Anoushka Shankar, The Temptations, Chess Records, More Celebrated at Grammy Special Merit Awards". Billboard.
- ^ O'Donnell, Maureen. "Phil Chess, co-founder of Chicago's Chess Records, dead at 95". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved 20 October 2016.