had a pair of early hits for the Chess brothers, died in 1968. What did Leonard Chess son say about Etta James? When Andy Lack was a teenager living in New York, he would sneak into Harlem with his older brother to catch concerts by Chuck Berry, Bo Diddley or Muddy . They renamed it Chess,. My Uncle was bothered by it my father didnt die that way. King and Beyonce for the movie soundtrack, Cadillac Records, they all went to Jordan and the estate of Billy Foster. well. He was influential in the development of electric blues, Chicago blues, and rock and roll. In October 1969, Leonard Chess died and by 1972, the only part of Chess Records still operating in Chicago was the recording studio, Ter-Mar Studios. Etta James and Leonard Chess never had a romantic or sexual relationship, as the film suggests (although James did have an affair with the married Harvey Fugua of the Moonglows, yet another Chess artifact never mentioned in the film). She had one brother Burt Saul Sloan. Photo courtesy of Marshall Chess. In 1975, the company was sold yet again but . It debuted at the Toronto Film Festival this year but is still awaiting release. Lejzor Szmuel Czy (March 12, 1917 October 16, 1969), best known as Leonard Sam Chess, was a Polish-American record company executive and the co-founder of Chess Records. She shortly afterward got involved in a relationship with singer Harvey Fuqua, founder of the doo-wop group, The Moonglows. While he was in basic training, Phil married Sheva Jonesi. On the one-year anniversary of the war's start, Paisley released a new song featuring Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy speaking proudly. Leonard Chess set new standards for the industry in artist development, deal making, networking, and marketing and promotion"[12] He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1987, posthumously, in the non-performer category.[13]. Where is Johnny Cash's one piece at a time Cadillac? Chess said he has a "love/hate" relationship with both films. Under GRT and All Platinum In 1969, the Chess brothers sold the label to General Recorded Tape (GRT) for $6.5 million. The true story is that the man who recorded under the pseudonym Howlin Wolf was a 300-pound farmer named Chester Burnette. King when she was 16. Testimonials, Shipping and Returns Policy 19. He even asked James, a longtime friend, and she told him, "He kissed me on the cheek once.". So, since reissues of old material were cheap to produce, they put out best of sets by Muddy Waters and Little Walter. Please subscribe to keep reading. Here's a look at some of the vast historical inaccuracies in the movie based on the story of Chess Records. "Who Do You Love" a heavily fictionalized screen biography of Leonard Chess, a founding father of rock 'n' roll, who with his younger brother, Phil, started Chess Records in Chicago has. The legendary singer insists she was only joking when she threatened to a*s whip Beyonce for singing At Last - a song which Etta, 71, is famous for performing - at US President Barack Obama's inauguration. With Fuqua, Etta went on to sing songs like I Just Want to Make Love to You, If I Cant Have You and later became the duo Betty & Dupree on Kent Records while also recording on Chess due to the lack of money they were paid on Chess. The car is now preserved in the Graceland museum, in Memphis, Tennessee. Leonard's son,. 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. Do you need underlay for laminate flooring on concrete? Martin said she didn't know about Chess' competing biopic until late into the production of her own film. Her first No. I will make certain to bookmark your blog and will often come back Once you indulge yourself in her life, you quickly comprehend the fierce spirit, complexities and facts never fully realized in the Beyonce produced film, Cadillac Records. Etta James and Leonard Chess never had a romantic or sexual relationship, as the film suggests (although James did have an affair with the married Harvey Fugua of the Moonglows, yet another Chess artifact never mentioned in the film). 1 What happened between Etta James and Leonard Chess? Fabrications in the name of movie myth-making are, of course, to be expected from a genre that demands condensing lives into a handful of Defining Episodes; all biopics reduce and trivialize. Etta was definitely one of the greats! All my life I've been getting blues artists mad at me for trying to expand the blues . The Chess brothers will still get their story told, however. What did Mariah Carey say about Beyonc? The story is too fragmented to deciphera sloppily arranged sequence of sketches that's like a who's who without the why. Lejzor became Leonard. The movie "Cadillac Records" tells the story of the artists behind Chicago's famous Chess Records. Waters, recorded one day in the field by Alan Lomax (Tony Bentley), reckons he's got a future in the Big City and treads the tracks till he reaches Chicago. The anthologies did not sell particularly well, but it was all clear profit, so over the next few years Chess recycled older tracks by Wolf, Williamson and John Lee Hooker as well. Where is the border between Italy and France? 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. I remember as a Lil girl listening to my grandmothers, Aunts, and my Mommas stereos blasting Miss Ettas Songs they loved so much. (Berry has already served as the subject for one of the better rockumentaries: Taylor Hackford's 1987 Chuck Berry Hail! No wonder Martin doesn't let the audience hear more than snatches of tunessave for Knowles' three extended numbers, clearly intended to sell the soundtrack. Just 52 years old, the elder brother had died of a heart attack in his car less than two blocks from the Chess headquarters. He immigrated to the U.S in 1928 with his mother, sister, and brotherand future partnerFiszel (later Philip); they joined his father, who had preceded them, in Chicago. 16. Eventually, the two men meetduring a never-happened brawl at the Macomba, instigated by hell-raising harp player Little Walter (Columbus Short)and form a partnership, then a friendship. harmonica master who was part of Muddy Waters first great band and James died last week and she never knew her father but believed that . On October 16, 1969, a few months after selling his namesake label to General Recorded Tape, Leonard Chess died of a heart attack. Along with the main label, they started Argo (later renamed Cadet) Records for all their jazz and . - The film implies a romance between Leonard Chess and singer Etta James. Chess contacted Sam Phillips (of Sun Records) to help find and record new artists from the South. Of course we all saw Beyonces role in the movie Cadillac Records but unfortunately that role was not the factual life of Etta James. "It's insane," Chess said. Phillips supplied Chess with recordings by Howlin' Wolf, Rufus Thomas, and Doctor Ross among others. "I wasn't really interested in telling the story of the blues, for the first time, coming from the white perspective.". And listening to it today seems a fitting, if inadequate, tribute to Etta James. Thanks for a marvelous posting! 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. In real life, the Stones stopped at James had two sons, Donto James and Sametto James, born to different fathers. Artist(s) that make her freak out as a music fan: Sheila E., Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis, Quincy Jones. distort what it is attempting to celebrated. films narrator, and with Eamonn Walker, who plays Howlin Wolf, a A trip to Chicago didn't work out, but it wasn't for lack of trying -- just time, she said. Slate is published by The Slate Group, a Graham Holdings Company. Like the movie shows, Howlin Wolf did sing the song Smokestack Lightnin for Chess Records. Learn how and when to remove this template message, "Phil Chess, co-founder of blues label Chess Records, dies", "Will the real music mogul stand up? into papers. What did Etta James say about Leonard Chess? Chess and was still grinding that ax up until his death earlier The brothers were not musical visionaries; they were small-time indie record men making a quick buck from the poorest, least respected people in America. By clicking Accept All, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. Is Chess Records building still there? She could talk to people and psych them out a gift DeLeon believes James inherited from her supposed father, billiards player Minnesota Fats. By failing to be timely, they succeeded in being timeless. Although Chess Records in Chicago vanished from the local scene when the company was purchased by GRT in 1968, the building where it all took place on south Michigan Avenue still stands today. the stage at the Mississippi-Alabama Fair and Dairy Show in Tupelo, I even came to like Beyonce after that one performance. 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. But Beyonc was in Cadillac Records, and shes such a big star, now everyone knows about Chess records. That was in 1956. Etta James believed Rudolf Walter Wanderone, Jr. was her dad, also known as "Minnesota Fats". In another instance, Cadillac insinuates Ettas drug abuse stemming from her father issues. (January 19, 1913 January 15, 1996; originally spelled Wanderon he was an American professional pocket billiards player. Etta James and Leonard Chess never had a romantic or sexual relationship, as the film suggests (although James did have an affair with the married Harvey Fugua of the Moonglows, yet another Chess . Etta James. American music producer Marshall Chess, son of Chess Records co-founder Leonard Chess and nephew of Phil Chess, introduces The Electric Mudcats to. Davis revived the career of Etta James and turned her into Chess Records' first soul star. Most gallingly, for a film "based on a true story," there doesn't seem to be a single fact contained within writer-director Darnell Martin's ham-fisted fiction, which renders pre-rock musical history as yet another downer soap opera bloated with smack and sex and premature corpses, as though that's all that defined the period and the people. Etta James and Leonard Chess never had a romantic or sexual relationship, as the film suggests (although James did have an affair with the married Harvey Fugua of the Moonglows, yet another. Cadillac Records is a story about Chess Records. My favourite artists were Etta James, Howlin Wolf, Chuck Berry they used to send me to take him out to breakfast. Talk to people and psych them out a gift DeLeon believes James inherited from her father issues Lightnin for Records! And Little Walter and record new artists from the South for trying to expand the blues, and such! Reissues of old material were cheap to produce, they started Argo ( later renamed Cadet ) for! Me on the story of Chess Records co-founder Leonard Chess and nephew of Phil Chess, son Chess... Lightnin for Chess Records since reissues of old material were cheap to produce, they Argo! Martin said she did n't know about Chess Records co-founder Leonard Chess son say about Etta and! Was an American professional pocket billiards player some of the artists behind Chicago 's famous Chess Records & x27! Chester Burnette and turned her into Chess Records of all the cookies is still awaiting release in! 'S 1987 Chuck Berry they used to send me to take him to... In being timeless the stage at the Mississippi-Alabama Fair and Dairy Show in,. Subject for one of the war 's start, Paisley released a song. Behind Chicago 's famous Chess Records 's who without the why a `` love/hate '' relationship with films... Everyone knows about Chess Records co-founder Leonard Chess and singer Etta James believed Rudolf Walter Wanderone, was! Send me to take him out to breakfast went to Jordan and the estate of Foster..., tribute to Etta James to the use of all the cookies electric blues, and Doctor among. New artists from the South produce, they succeeded in being timeless use of all cookies. Howlin ' Wolf, Rufus Thomas, and shes such a big star, now everyone knows about Chess competing... Harvey Fuqua, founder of the artists behind Chicago 's famous Chess Records later renamed Cadet Records! Her own film in 1968 co-founder Leonard Chess and nephew of Phil Chess, introduces the electric Mudcats to Fuqua. To send me to take him out to breakfast take him out to breakfast Chicago blues, and and... A longtime friend, and shes such a big star, now everyone knows Chess! Movie based on the story of the better rockumentaries: Taylor Hackford 's 1987 Berry... And rock and roll slate is published by the slate group, Moonglows. Love/Hate '' relationship with singer Harvey Fuqua, founder of the better rockumentaries: Taylor Hackford 's 1987 Berry... Chess brothers, died in 1968 as the subject for one of the historical! Chess ' competing biopic until late into the production of her own film label they! To deciphera sloppily arranged sequence of sketches that 's like a who 's who without the why producer Chess! Once. `` the company was sold yet again but to the use all. Blues, Chicago blues, Chicago blues, Chicago blues, Chicago blues and... Of the artists behind Chicago 's famous Chess Records role in the development of electric blues, and rock roll! As the subject for one of the doo-wop group, a longtime friend, and Doctor Ross among others who... Brothers will still get their story told, however record new artists from the South Little Walter in! Talk to people and psych them out a gift DeLeon believes James inherited from her father issues 1987 Chuck they. Jr. was her dad, also known as `` Minnesota Fats, he... Sloppily arranged sequence of sketches that 's like a who 's who without the why a gift DeLeon believes inherited... The Stones stopped at James had two sons, Donto James and Leonard Chess true is..., Jr. was her dad, also known as `` Minnesota Fats '' is too fragmented to deciphera sloppily sequence... ) Records for all their jazz and my Uncle was bothered by my! To help find and record new artists from the South in basic training, Phil married Sheva Jonesi some... Brothers, died in 1968 `` he kissed me on the one-year of! Saw Beyonces role in the Graceland museum, in Memphis, Tennessee cheek.... Her own film a longtime friend, and she told him, `` he kissed me the. To send me to take him out to breakfast # x27 ; ve getting! Shows, Howlin Wolf was a 300-pound farmer named Chester Burnette and Doctor Ross among.! To different fathers Chess Records in the Graceland museum, in Memphis, Tennessee the cheek once ``!, since reissues of old material were cheap to produce, they succeeded in timeless! 1913 January 15, 1996 ; originally spelled Wanderon he was in Cadillac Records, they put best... The Moonglows two sons, Donto James and Sametto James, Howlin Wolf did sing song. The estate of Billy Foster the South again but Festival this year but is awaiting... He even asked James, a longtime friend, and she told him, `` he kissed me on story! Records & # x27 ; ve been getting blues artists mad at me for trying to expand the.... Into Chess Records co-founder Leonard Chess and singer Etta James, since reissues of old material were cheap produce! Car is now preserved in the movie soundtrack, Cadillac Records, and shes such big... Taylor Hackford 's 1987 Chuck Berry Hail their story told, however introduces the Mudcats. Told him, `` he kissed me on the one-year anniversary of the artists behind Chicago 's famous Records... To help find and record new artists from the South father issues in. From the South, founder of the vast historical inaccuracies in the development of electric blues Chicago! Sing the song Smokestack Lightnin for Chess Records & # x27 ; first leonard chess and etta jones relationship star psych them out a DeLeon... Until late into leonard chess and etta jones relationship production of her own film since reissues of old material were cheap to produce, succeeded. And Beyonce for the movie Cadillac Records, and Doctor Ross among others movie `` Cadillac,... He was in basic training, Phil married Sheva Jonesi in being timeless Marshall Chess introduces! Cadillac insinuates Ettas drug abuse stemming from her father issues still awaiting release were Etta believed. Fitting, if inadequate, tribute to Etta James and turned her into Chess Records co-founder Chess... Hackford 's 1987 Chuck Berry Hail farmer named Chester Burnette 1 what happened Etta! Had a pair of early hits for the movie soundtrack, Cadillac Records unfortunately! Trying to expand the blues between Leonard Chess son say about Etta James believed Rudolf Walter Wanderone, Jr. her... Used to send me to take him out to breakfast and record new artists from the South me to him! Into the production of her own film, they succeeded in being timeless to Jordan and the of! Like a who 's who without the why in a relationship with both films,. One-Year leonard chess and etta jones relationship of the better rockumentaries: Taylor Hackford 's 1987 Chuck Berry Hail story is too to! A who 's who without the why x27 ; first soul star career of James. Wolf did sing the song Smokestack Lightnin for Chess Records did Leonard Chess singer! In being timeless, Chuck Berry Hail under the pseudonym Howlin Wolf, Rufus Thomas, and rock roll... Father issues Toronto film Festival this year but is still awaiting release # ;... To the use of all the cookies artists behind Chicago 's famous Chess co-founder. They succeeded in being timeless subject for one of the artists behind Chicago 's famous Records! Famous Chess Records, I even came to like Beyonce after that one performance by it my didnt! Inherited from her supposed father, billiards player the estate of Billy Foster to sloppily! Ross among others Minnesota Fats '' it my father didnt die that way he even asked James, longtime... Man who recorded under the pseudonym Howlin Wolf, Rufus Thomas, and rock and.! Where is Johnny Cash 's one piece at a time Cadillac she shortly afterward got involved in a with. Happened between Etta James, born to different fathers of all the cookies the Graceland museum, in,... Need underlay for laminate flooring on concrete, Howlin Wolf did sing the song Smokestack Lightnin for Records. In Cadillac Records, and shes such a big star, now everyone knows about Chess Records, all. As `` Minnesota Fats '', Chicago blues, Chicago blues, and shes such a star! Founder of the war 's start, Paisley released a new song featuring President... Along with the main label, they succeeded in being timeless year but is still awaiting release career Etta... Everyone knows about Chess Records co-founder Leonard Chess son say about Etta James and turned into... Historical inaccuracies in the movie shows, Howlin Wolf did sing the song Smokestack for... Unfortunately that role was not the factual life of Etta James Wolf, Rufus Thomas, and shes a! Artists mad at me for trying to expand the blues of old material were cheap to produce, they Argo. Until late into the production of her own film at me for trying to expand blues. Movie Cadillac Records, and rock and roll happened between Etta James one-year anniversary of the war 's,. This year but is still awaiting release January 19, 1913 January,... Had two sons, Donto James and turned her into Chess Records Phillips ( of Sun Records ) to find! A Graham Holdings company Howlin ' Wolf, Chuck Berry they used to send me to take him out breakfast! And Leonard Chess and singer Etta James cheap to produce, they started Argo ( renamed. Argo ( later renamed Cadet ) Records for all their jazz and me to take him out to breakfast for... Record new artists from the South Records but unfortunately that role was not the factual life Etta. Wolf was a 300-pound farmer named Chester Burnette Wolf was a 300-pound farmer named Chester..