Chess Records Trivia Quiz

Answer: Chicago, Illinois

Leonard bought into Chicago-based Aristocrat Records in the late forties. Charles and Evelyn Aron and other partners formed the company in 1947. In September, 1947, Leonard Chess invested heavily in the label and the following year Leonard Chess and Evelyn Aron were operating the label. By 1950 Chess was the sole owner and invited his brother Phil to help manage the company, renamed Chess Records. Lejzor Czyz was born in Poland and when the Czyz family emigrated to the US their name was changed to Chess. Lejzor became Leonard and Fiszel's name was changed to Phil. Leonard and Phil became owners of nightclubs on Chicago's South Side and gradually became involved in the recording business to record artists who were performing in their clubs. Cadet Records, Checker Records and Cadet Concept Records were subsidiaries of Chess.

Answer: The Moonglows

"Sincerely" was written by Harvey Fuqua of The Moonglows with disc jockey Alan Freed also credited as writer. It was the group's first Chess release. Freed's airways nickname was "Moondog" so he dubbed the group The Moonglows. In 1957 The Moonglows appeared in Alan Freed's movie "Rock, Rock, Rock" and released another hit, "Ten Commandments of Love" billed as Harvey & the Moonglows.

In 1960 Fuqua relocated to Detroit, essentially disbanding the Moonglows. Harvey married Berry Gordy, Jr.'s sister, Gwen, and while working with her he recruited several talented people into the Motown stable such as Lamont Dozier, Jr. Walker & The All Stars, Marvin Gaye and David Ruffin. The Orioles recorded "It's Too Soon to Know" on Jubilee Records. "Goodnite Sweetheart, Goodnite" was a Spaniels hit on the Chicago Vee Jay Records label and The Five Satins were known for "In the Still Of The Night".

Answer: Earth, Wind & Fire

As a session player for Chess, Maurice played on many legendary sessions including Fontella Bass's hit "Rescue Me" and recordings by Etta James, Billy Stewart and most of the Chess artists. He met Ramsey Lewis at Chess and worked with Ramsey on nine albums.

After leaving The Ramsey Lewis Trio, White tried to form a band and released a few singles that were not successful. He decided to relocate to California with his brother, Verdine, where they assembled a 10-piece band and called it Earth, Wind & Fire.

In addition to performing with the group he has been a producer for acts such as Barbra Streisand, Neil Diamond, Atlantic Starr and the Urban Knights. The Average White Band was a Scottish funk group. Wild Cherry was formed in Steubenville, Ohio and The Buckinghams were a sixties rock band from Chicago.

Answer: Etta James

Etta James joined the Chess family in 1960, recording on their Argo Records and Cadet Records subsidiaries. She initially released some duets with her husband at the time, Harvey Fuqua. Her first solo hit was "All I Could Do Was Cry". In 1961 Leonard recorded Etta singing "At Last" backed with strings.

The song became Etta's signature song and did better on the R&B charts upon release than on the Billboard Hot 100. More hits followed and in 1963 Chess released James' first live album, "Etta James Rocks the House", recorded at the New Era Club in Nashville. James can be heard backing Chuck Berry on "Back in the USA".

She recorded her last Chess albums in 1978. Koko Taylor scored the final blues hit for Chess subsidiary, Checker, with "Wang Dang Doodle" in 1966.

In 1964 Jackie Ross released "Selfish One", a number 11 hit for Chess. Jan Bradley recorded "Mama Didn't Lie" for Chess. Curtis Mayfield wrote the 1963 Chess release which reached number 14 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Answer: Willie Dixon

After being jailed for refusing to obey the draft as a conscientious objector, Dixon signed with Chess as a singer. By 1950 he was on the staff as a session player, songwriter, producer and A&R man. Dixon's bass playing was impeccable and he played stand-up bass on sessions for most of the artists on the label through the early sixties.

The Rolling Stones had an early UK Number One with a version of Dixon's "Little Red Rooster". When you hear classics from various bands such as "Back Door Man", "I Just Want to Make Love to You", "Seventh Son" and "I Can't Quit You Baby" they are among the more than 50 hits penned by Dixon.

The 2120 South Michigan Avenue address of the former Chess Record Company is now home to the Willie Dixon's Blues Heaven Foundation. Dixon played bass on many of the Howlin' Wolf sessions when Howlin' Wolf recorded many of Dixon's songs. Howlin' Wolf's birth name was Chester Arthur Burnett. John Lee Hooker recorded for Chess and performed live on the 1980 "Blues Brother's" film. Sonny Boy Williamson II's Trumpet Records contract was bought by Chess when Trumpet closed.

He recorded close to 70 songs during his 10-year stay at Chess.

Answer: Maybellene

With the success of "Maybellene" Chuck became the first African American solo artist to reach the Top Ten on the Billboard Hot 100 with a Rock and Roll record. Chuck had worked as a hairdresser before recording and Maybellene was a line of cosmetics. Johnnie Johnson played piano on most of Chuck's sessions and live dates. Johnson was working with a band called The Sir John Trio.

When one of the musicians was ill for a New Years Eve gig Johnnie called an unknown guitar player he believed would probably not be playing New Years Eve. Chuck Berry performed the gig and became a member of the band. Before long they were at Chess Records recording "Maybellene". Johnson remained with Chuck until 1973 and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2001. "Roll Over Beethoven" was released the following year. "School Days" was a 1957 release and "Sweet Little Sixteen" came out in 1958.

Answer: Billy Stewart

Billy Stewart was working as a piano player in Bo Diddley's band. Bo Diddley was already with Chess and arranged for a contract between Chess Records and Stewart. Stewart cut a few releases that made chart appearances and in 1965 he recorded two songs he composed, "I Do Love You" and "Sitting in the Park".

His unique vocal phrasing and trilling was being developed. The following year he recorded "Billy Stewart Teaches Old Standards New Tricks", which contained his Top Ten interpretation of "Summertime".

He followed up with "Secret Love" and made more recording for Chess. He died at age 33 along with three members of his band when his car crashed in North Carolina. Harmonica and guitar player Little Walter was born Marion Walter Jacobs. He was a session player on many Chess recordings.

His Chess release, "Juke", became the first harmonica recording to reach Number One on the R&B charts. Buddy Guy was signed to Chess from 1959 to 1968 and was primarily a session musician. His only Chess release was the "Left My Blues in San Francisco" LP. Willie Mabon was another Chess artist who started with Aristocrat.

Answer: Clarence "Frogman" Henry

Clarence "Frogman" Henry took over his sister's piano lessons when she decided to quit. He then began performing around his native New Orleans and formed his own band right after graduating from high school. He connected with Chess A&R representative Paul Gayten at a club called the Brass Rail. An appointment was made to record "Ain't Got No Home" at Chess. Leonard wasn't keen on the song so he put it on the "B" side of "Troubles Troubles".

When New Orleans-based disc jockeys played "Ain't Got No Home" the stations got numerous calls to play it again and a hit was born.

He recorded more hits and in 1965 he opened for The Beatles at 18 shows. Dave "Baby" Cortez had an instrumental hit with Clock Records and a Top Ten instrumental in 1962 on Chess titled "Rinky Dink". Johnny "Guitar" Watson was signed with Chess in the sixties. Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown has recorded for many labels, but Chess was not one of them.

Answer: Rotary Connection

Minnie Riperton was a receptionist with Chess Records when she was recruited to be part of Rotary Connection along with Judy Hauff, Sidney Barnes, Bobby Simms, Mitch Aliotta and Ken Venegas. The group was formed under the supervision of Chess Records producers.

Their first album was a regional hit but failed to make a big impact nationally. In 1968 the group released their second and third albums called "Aladdin" and "Peace". They released three more albums before disbanding in 1971. H.P. Lovecraft was a psychedelic group that formed in Chicago in 1967 and relocated to California the following year.

The Psychedelic Furs were formed in England and The Fugs formed in 1965 in New York City.

Answer: Sugar Pie DeSanto

Sugar Pie DeSanto was born Umpeylia Balinton. She was a Rhythm and Blues singer signed to Chess records. Her single "I Want to Know" hit Number Four in 1960. Slappy White worked the came club circuit as Redd Foxx and appeared on "Sanford and Son" (1972) with Redd. Moms Mabley was born Loretta Mary Aiken and adopted the name "Moms" because she was considered the mom of so many comedians who worked the comedy clubs.

At the height of her career she was bringing in $10,000 a week. Some of the routines on Dewey "Pigmeat" Markham's Chess recordings include "Look that up in your Funk and Wagnalls" and the "Here come da judge", routine that were later made popular on "Laugh In" (1968 to 1973).

He recorded a song called "Here Come the Judge" in 1968 and titled his autobiography "Here Come the Judge!"