Died On This Date (October 16, 1969) Leonard Chess / Chess Records

Leonard Chess (Born Lejzor Czyz)
March 12, 1917 – October 16, 1969

Leonard ChessBorn in Poland, a young (and not yet called) Leonard Chess moved with his family to Chicago in 1928.  Leonard and his brother Phil got into the music business by way of the Macomba Lounge, a popular Black club they took over in 1946.  Shortly thereafter, Leonard began working with a local jazz and black label called Aristocrat Records.  He and his brother eventually took it over and began changing its focus to the down and dirty sound of the blues they had fallen in love with.  By the time they were done, they had made seminal records with the likes of Howlin’ Wolf, Chuck Berry, Muddy Waters, Willie Dixon, Bo Diddley, Etta James and Koko Taylor, to name just a handful.   In the early ’60s, Chess purchased a couple of radio station, and in 1969, he sold Chess Records.  He died of a heart attack just a few months later.



Died On This Date (October 8, 2009) Abu Talib / Bluesman; Played With Ray Charles

Abu Talib (Born Freddy Robinson)
February 24, 1939 – October 8, 2009

Photo by Tony Berg

Freddy Robinson, who changed his name to Abu Talib when he converted to Islam during the ’70s, was a blues singer, songwriter, guitarist and harmonica player.  Very diverse in his playing, Talib was comfortable in both blues and jazz combos.  During the ’50s and ’60s, he worked with Howlin’ Wolf, Little Walter and Jimmy Rogers.  In the ’70s and ’80s, he played with the likes of Stanley Turrentine, Bobby “Blue” Bland, John Mayall and Blue Mitchell.  He also played with Ray Charles.  Abu Talib died of cancer at the age of 70.