Age, Biography and Wiki

Leonard Chess (Lejzor Szmuel Czyż) was born on 12 March, 1917 in Motal, Poland, is a Polish-American record executive (1917–1969). Discover Leonard Chess's Biography, Age, Height, Physical Stats, Dating/Affairs, Family and career updates. Learn How rich is he in this year and how he spends money? Also learn how he earned most of networth at the age of 52 years old?

Popular As Lejzor Szmuel Czyż
Occupation Record company executive
Age 52 years old
Zodiac Sign Pisces
Born 12 March 1917
Birthday 12 March
Birthplace Motal, Poland
Date of death 16 October, 1969
Died Place Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Nationality Poland

We recommend you to check the complete list of Famous People born on 12 March. He is a member of famous executive with the age 52 years old group.

Leonard Chess Height, Weight & Measurements

At 52 years old, Leonard Chess height not available right now. We will update Leonard Chess's Height, weight, Body Measurements, Eye Color, Hair Color, Shoe & Dress size soon as possible.

Physical Status
Height Not Available
Weight Not Available
Body Measurements Not Available
Eye Color Not Available
Hair Color Not Available

Who Is Leonard Chess's Wife?

His wife is Revetta Sloan

Family
Parents Not Available
Wife Revetta Sloan
Sibling Not Available
Children 3 including Marshall Chess

Leonard Chess Net Worth

His net worth has been growing significantly in 2023-2024. So, how much is Leonard Chess worth at the age of 52 years old? Leonard Chess’s income source is mostly from being a successful executive. He is from Poland. We have estimated Leonard Chess's net worth, money, salary, income, and assets.

Net Worth in 2024 $1 Million - $5 Million
Salary in 2024 Under Review
Net Worth in 2023 Pending
Salary in 2023 Under Review
House Not Available
Cars Not Available
Source of Income executive

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Timeline

1917

Lejzor Szmuel Czyż (March 12, 1917 – October 16, 1969), best known as Leonard Sam Chess and simply Leonard Chess, was a Polish-American record company executive and the co-founder of Chess Records.

He was influential in the development of electric blues, Chicago blues, and rock and roll.

Chess was born to Polish-Jewish parents in Motal, now in Belarus.

1928

He and his brother, Fiszel, sister, Malka, and mother arrived in New York in 1928 from Poland.

They quickly went to Chicago to join their father, Joseph, who was already engaged in the liquor business, which was illegal at the height of Prohibition and controlled in Chicago by Al Capone.

The family name was changed to Chess, with Lejzor becoming Leonard and Fiszel becoming Philip.

1938

Leonard and his brother Phil became involved in the black nightclub scene on the South Side of Chicago in 1938 running a series of jazz clubs, culminating in the Macomba Lounge.

1941

In 1941, he married Revetta Sloan, who was also Jewish; they had three children: son Marshall and two daughters, Elaine and Susie.

1947

In 1947, Leonard became associated with Aristocrat Records, increasing his share in the company over time; eventually he and Phil would acquire complete control.

The Chess brothers moved the company away from black pop and jazz and other genres into down home blues music with artists such as Muddy Waters.

1950

In 1950, the Chess brothers renamed the company Chess Records.

"My Foolish Heart" (Gene Ammons), "Rollin' Stone" (Muddy Waters), and "That's All Right" (Jimmy Rogers) were among the first releases on the new label.

In the 1950s, Chess Records' commercial success grew with artists such as Little Walter, The Moonglows, The Flamingos, and Chuck Berry, and in the '60s with Etta James, Fontella Bass, KoKo Taylor, Little Milton, Laura Lee, and Tommy Tucker, as well as with the subsidiary labels Checker, Argo, and Cadet.

1951

Leonard Chess played bass drum on one of Muddy Waters' sessions in 1951, specifically on the tracks "She Moves Me" and "Still A Fool".

Chess contacted Sam Phillips (of Sun Records) to help find and record new artists from the South.

Phillips supplied Chess with recordings by Howlin' Wolf, Rufus Thomas, and Doctor Ross among others.

Of these, Howlin' Wolf in particular became very popular, and Chess Records had to vie for him with other companies which had also been supplied with Wolf recordings by Phillips.

In time, other important artists signed with Chess Records, including Bo Diddley and Sonny Boy Williamson, while Willie Dixon and Robert Lockwood Jr.. took on a significant role behind the scenes.

1960

As the 1960s progressed, Chess's recording enterprise branched out into other genres including gospel, traditional jazz, spoken word, comedy, and more.

In the early 1960s, Chess became involved in the broadcasting business as part owner of WVON-AM radio and later acquired WSDM-FM, both in Chicago.

1969

On October 16, 1969, a few months after selling his namesake label to General Recorded Tape, Leonard Chess died of a heart attack.

He was buried at Westlawn Cemetery in Norridge, Illinois.

1987

Music industry historian John Broven has written that "Leonard Chess was the dynamo behind Chess Records, the label that, along with Atlantic and Sun, has come to epitomize the independent record business. ... Leonard Chess set new standards for the industry in artist development, deal making, networking, and marketing and promotion…" He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1987, posthumously, in the non-performer category.

2008

Chess was the focus of 2008 movies Cadillac Records (portrayed by Adrien Brody) and Who Do You Love? (portrayed by Alessandro Nivola) which are also fictional accounts of the ascent (and descent) of the label itself and the personnel who were involved or recorded at Chess Records.

He is portrayed by Rob Morrow on CMT's drama series titled Sun Records.