Leonard Chess (March 12, 1917 - October 16, 1969) was a record company executive, founder of Chess Records. Chess was influential in the development of electric blues. He was born Lejzor Czyz in a Jewish community in Motal, Poland (but now within Belarus) . He and his brother Fiszel, sister Malka and mother followed their father to Chicago, Illinois in 1928. The family name was changed to Chess, with Lejzor becoming Leonard and Fiszel becoming Philip. Leonard and his brother Phil were involved in the black nightclub scene on the South Side of Chicago by 1947. They soon became associated with Aristocrat Records, and moved the company away from black pop and jazz and closer to pure blues music with artists such as Muddy Waters, Sunnyland Slim and Willie Dixon. Leonard Chess himself played bass drum one of Muddy Waters's early sessions. In 1948, the Chess brothers took control of the company and in 1950 renamed it Chess Records. "My Foolish Heart" (Gene Ammons), "Rollin' Stone" (Muddy Waters) and "That's All Right" (Jimmy Rogers) showcased the company's new direction. The 2008 movies Cadillac Records and Who Do You Love? are both fictional accounts of the ascent of Chess Records. (via Wikipedia)