Chess Records 80

Jerry Abbott | Family Photo | Copyright Control | tc2001 Record producer, recording engineer and song writer Jerry Bob Abbott was born in Abilene,  Texas on April 8, 1942. A child prodigy who played piano and guitar, in 1973 he became a recording engineer. He became the owner of the Abtrax studio in Nashville. Jerry Abbott died while in care in Denton, Texas on 2 April 2024.

  Jerome Arnold | Don Paulsen/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images | tc715 Bassist Romeo Maurice “Jerome” Arnold was born in Chicago, Illinois on November 12, 1936 and came to prominence for his work as a member of The Paul Butterfield Blues Band and subsequent work with Howlin’ Wolf. He also played bass for Bob Dylan at the Newport Folk Festival when Dylan went electric. Jerome Arnold is a brother of Billy Boy Arnold. As an original member of the Butterfield band, he was subsequently inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2015.

  Billy Boy Arnold | Vee Jay Records | tc092 William “Billy Boy” Arnold was born on September 16, 1935 in Chicago. John Lee “Sonny Boy” Williamson was a neighbour and gave him harmonica lessons! He played harmonica on the March 2, 1955 recording of Bo Diddley’s “I’m a Man” and recorded some tracks under his own name in the same session. The tracks were not released at the time because he was signed to Vee Jay Records. During the 1970s he toured extensively including Europe and on 5 October 1977 appeared on the BBC Radio 1's John Peel programme. For a while he worked as a bus driver and as a parole officer. He continues to record. His autobiography was published in 2021. The bassist Jerome Arnold is a younger brother.

  Chuck Berry | Rolling Stone | tc036 Charles Edward Anderson “Chuck” Berry was born on October 18, 1926 in St Louis, Missouri.,  He traveled to Chicago in May 1955, and met Muddy Waters, who suggested he contact Leonard Chess of Chess Records. The resulting record of "Maybelline", based on the country song "Ida Red", sold over one million copies and set a high standard – a combination of amazing guitar playing, developing the playing style of T Bone Walker, which inspired whole generations of musicians, and composing articulate descriptive songs. He became known as "The father of rock and roll". His lyrics concentrated on teenage life and consumerism.  Berry has had a number of spells in prison for a variety of offences including offences against the Mann Act and of tax evasion. Having been ripped off, Berry insisted on being paid cash in a paper bag which he transferred to his attache case. Although mainly associated with Chess Records, Berry signed with...

  Charles and Evelyn Aron | The Vocal Group | Copyright Control | Aristocrat1 Charles Aron (also known as Aaron) ran The M&S Distributing Company,  a juke box and record distributor, in Chicago and decided to set up a record company which they called Aristocrat. Three other backers helped to finance the company: Fred and Mildred Mount, and Art Spiegel.  On 14 April 1947, Cash Box reported that their first releases were now available.  On October 6 1947, Cash Box reported that Leonard Chess had joined the company and was helping to promote their releases. Charles Aron was born in 1907 in Romania. He married Evelyn Marks who was born in Chicago in 1919. They separated in 1948; she stayed on at Aristocrat until the Chess brothers acquired the total company in 1949.  Charles Aron died in Miami, Florida, in 1974.  Evelyn Aron died in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on 21 January 2010.

  Bo Diddley LP Cover | tc027 Ellas Otha Bates (Bo Diddley) was born in McComb, Mississippi, on December 30, 1928.  He is one of the most original artistes in music, in any genre. He mixed African rhythms with a traditional "hambone" rhythm to create a unique cornerstone of modern music.  He is also known for his distinctive guitar designs and technical innovations. For songwriting credits he used the name Ellas McDaniel. His records feature insistent, driving rhythms and a hard-edged electric guitar sound.  At school in Chicago he took up boxing and sparring and was given the nickname "Bo Diddley" by his class mates. He regarded it as an insult. Bo Diddley worked as a  carpenter and also as a mechanic before taking up music. He was inspired to take up music when he watched John Lee Hooker perform. His other early influences are thought to be Muddy Waters and Louis Jordan. His signature song, Bo Diddley, was recorded in 1954 at Universal Recordings with Roosevel...

  Patsy Abbott | Restored by Google | tc550 Jewish comedienne and singer Patsy Abbott was born in Nemerov, Russia and first appeared on stage in the 1940s with comedian Jackie Gleason. Her Broadway career was plagued by illness, and she relocated to Miami Beach, Florida. By 1955 she had opened her own night club venue there, and recorded two comedy albums.  By the early 1960s her bawdy style of comedy had dated, and she seems to have retired. No dates are available.