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Leonard Chess | |
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Born | Lejzor Szmuel Czyż March 12, 1917 Motal, Poland |
Died | October 16, 1969 Chicago, Illinois, U.S. | (aged 52)
Burial place | Westlawn Cemetery |
Occupation | Record company executive |
Spouse | Revetta Sloan |
Children | 3, including Marshall Chess |
Family | Jamar Chess (grandson) |
Musical career | |
Genres | |
Years active | 1938–1969 |
Labels | Chess, Checker, Argo, Cadet |
Leonard Samuel Chess (born Lejzor Szmuel Czyż; March 12, 1917 – October 16, 1969) was a Polish-American record company executive and the founder of Chess Records alongside his brother Phil. He was influential in the development of the recording industry, and electric blues, Chicago blues, and rock and roll.