Etta James and Leonard chess: Unveil the true story behind these 2 awesome characters
Etta James and Leonard Chess are two of the most influential figures in the music industry. Often featured in questions of famous crossword puzzles and other quizzes. The former was a successful singer-songwriter and the latter was the founder of Chess Records, one of the most important labels in the 20th century. This article will look at the life and legacy of both of these music icons.
James' career began in the s when her song &#;Roll With Me Henry&#; became a hit. From there, she went on to record hits like &#;At Last&#;, &#;I'd Rather Go Blind&#;, and &#;Tell Mama&#;. Her music was heavily influenced by blues, jazz, R&B, and gospel, and her powerful vocal style made her a star.
Leonard Chess was a Polish immigrant who found success after founding Chess Records in His label was home to some of the biggest names in blues, soul, and rock and roll, including Muddy Waters, Chuck Berry, and Etta James. He was also a pioneer in marketing and promotion, and even opened his own nightclub in Chicago.
Etta James and Leonard Chess
Etta James and Leonard Chess were a very important duo in the h
The Story Behind Etta James’s Greatest Song
Etta James, one of the great American pop singers of the last half-century, died this morning. Many of the much deserved tributes to appear so far have singled out her most famous single, the great “At Last,” enormously popular at weddings and famously sung by Beyoncé to Barack and Michelle Obama upon his inauguration as president (possibly still, somewhat regrettably, my favorite moment from the entire Obama presidency). The New York Times went so far as to describe James as the “Powerful Voice Behind ‘At Last’” in the headline of the paper’s obituary.
But Etta James was no one-hit wonder. In fact, as truly great as that song is, James recorded another that was even better—and it’s one she co-wrote, although, for tax reasons, she gave songwriting credit to her then boyfriend. (“It bugs me to this day that he still receives royalties,” James wrote in )
“I’d Rather Go Blind” (also, as it happens, sung by Beyoncé, when she played Etta James in the film Cadillac Records) was reportedly begun by Ellington “Fugi” Jordan, a friend of James’s, when he was in Chino Prison for robbery, and then completed by James later.
Describing the s
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What happened between Etta James and Leonard Chess?
For instance, while the film plays heavily on a romantic relationship with Chess Records head, Leonard Chess, this information was never once mentioned in Etta&#;s autobiography. “It never happened.” He even asked James, a longtime friend, and she told him, “He kissed me on the cheek once.”
What happened to the owner of Chess Records?
On October 16, , a few months after selling his namesake label to General Recorded Tape, Leonard Chess died of a heart attack.
Is the movie Cadillac Records based on a true story?
The true story is that the man who recorded under the pseudonym Howlin&#; Wolf was a pound farmer named Chester Burnette. Like the movie shows, Howlin&#; Wolf did sing the song “Smokestack Lightnin&#;” for Chess Records. That was in
Did Leonard Chess sell Chess Records?
Under GRT and All Platinum In , the Chess brothers sold the label to General Recorded Tape (GRT) for $ million. In October , Leonard Chess died and by , the only part of Chess Records still operating in Chicago was the recording studio, Ter-Mar Studios.
What did Leonard Chess son say about Etta James?
According to Marshall
Above: No, it&#;s not Beyonce. The wonderful Etta James during her Chess period.
By Joel Francis
As the s dawned on Chess Records, label founders Leonard and Phil were at the peak of their powers. Thanks to the proselytizing of the British Invasion bands, Muddy Waters, Howlin Wolf and other blues artists were performing for the largest crowds of their careers. Chuck Berry and Bo Diddley had helped formed rock and roll, and the label had branched into more genres, including R&B, comedy, jazz and gospel.
But Leonard and Phil were still looking for new ways to stay on top of the trends and build their roster. One of their biggest signings of the decade was an immediate success. The other took more than three decades to reach his commercial potential, but stands today as the greatest living link to Chess and Chicago blues.
Etta James was born in Los Angeles to an unwed, year-old mother. She was discovered at age 14 by bandleader Johnny Otis, and recorded with him for Modern Records in the late s. She signed to Chess in and converted Willie Dixon&#;s &#;Spoonful&#; into an R&B hit. Her breakthrough came the following year with &#;At Last.&#; The gorgeous soul balla
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