Chess Records

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Eddy Clearwater poses for a studio portrait in 1975, holding a Fender Telecaster guitar, in the United States.

Ten of the Greatest Chicago Blues Songs

By Guitar Player Staff published

Return to the source of inspiration with these Windy City blues guitar classics

Guitarists
Buddy Guy performs on the American Folk Blues Festival tour in London, October 1965

“He Said, ‘I Just Canceled a Gig, ’Cause I Wanted to See You’”: Buddy Guy Talks Befriending Jimi Hendrix

By Gary Graff published

How the blues icon met Jimi (and was invited to kick Leonard Chess’s butt!)

Guitarists
Muddy Waters’ Chess Blues Masters Series

“It’s so Raw, It’s Bloody”: Jim Campilongo Explains Why Muddy Waters’ Chess Blues Masters Series Album Is His Undisputed Desert Island Blues Disc

By Jim Campilongo published

The father of modern Chicago electric blues along with Little Walter, Willie Dixon, James Cotton, Otis Span, Tat Harris and others work their mojo on this collection of groundbreaking masterpieces

Music
Muddy Waters at Northwestern University in Evanston, IL on May 23, 1981.

Watch the Rolling Stones Performing "Hoochie Coochie Man" with Blues Legend Muddy Waters

By Rod Brakes, Guitar Player Staff published

Video Keith Richards plays the Chess Records blues standard with his guitar "god."

Video
Chuck Berry poses for a portait at Leonard Chess's home in circa 1958 in Chicago, Illinois.

Watch Chuck Berry Perform His Breakthrough Hit, “Maybellene,” Live on TV

By Denny Ilett, Christopher Scapelliti published

Video Five years on from his passing, we share the fascinating story behind the Father of Rock ‘n’ Roll’s pioneering classic.

Video
B.B. King performs his 10,000th concert at B.B. KIng Blues Club & Grill in Times Square on April 18, 2006 in New York City.

Definitive B.B. King Biography ‘King of the Blues’ Available to Pre-Order

By Rod Brakes published

Read this sneak peek telling the story of “3 O'Clock Blues” – the song that launched the great man’s career.

Guitarists