Leonard Chess Net Worth

Have you heard of Leonard Chess? If not, this blog post is all about him. Leonard was the co-founder of Chess, a Polish-American record company executive, and influential in the development of rock and roll, Chicago blues, and electric blues. He passed away at the age of 52 on October 16th, 1969.

If you’re curious to learn more about Leonard, read on. Interestingly, his wife Revetta Sloan gained popularity solely due to her husband.

Personal Life & Legacy of Leonard Chess:

In 1941, Leonard Chess married Revetta Sloan, a fellow Jew, and they had three children. He passed away due to a heart attack on October 16th, 1969, just after selling his namesake label to General Recorded Tape. Leonard Chess was buried in West Lawn Cemetery in Norridge, Illinois.

According to John Broven, a music industry historian, Leonard was the dynamo behind Chess Records, adding new standards for promotion, marketing, networking, deal-making, and artist development. He was even the focus of a movie in 2008, and Rob Morrow portrayed him in CMT’s drama series “Sun Records.”

Early Life of Leonard Chess:

Leonard, also known as Leonard Sam Chess, was born on March 12th, 1917, in Motal, Poland. Throughout his life, Leonard Chess made a strong impact on the music industry, and his net worth is estimated to be between $1 million to $6 million.

World War 2 occurred during the time Leonard and his brother were running Chess Records. After the war ended, they both joined another company, Aristocrat Records, under the supervision of Evelyn Aron.

Chess Records:

In 1938, Leonard made a deal with his brother Phil, and together, they were involved in the black nightclub scene on the South Side of Chicago, running a series of jazz clubs that culminated in the Macomba Lounge. In 1947, they united with Aristocrat Records to increase their share in the business. Leonard Chess’s contacts with Sun Records helped them find new artists, leading to the success of Chess Records.