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Phil Chess

 


22002 | Phil Chess | Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images

Fiszel Czyż (Philip Chess) was born in Motal, Poland (now Belarus) on 27 March 1921. The family moved to Chicago in 1928. 

Mr Chess served with the US Forces in World War 2. After leaving the Army in 1946, he joined his brother Leonard in running a night club. In 1948 Leonard became a partner in Aristocrat Records, Phil joined him in becoming a partner in 1950, and Aristocrat became Chess Records. 

Phil Chess retired in 1972 and went to live in Tucson, Arizona, where he died at home age 95 on 18 October 2016.

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