Chess Records Studio

The legendary Chess Records studio in Chicago — birthplace of Chicago Blues and early Rock 'n' Roll, now a museum where Chuck Berry and Muddy Waters made their immortal recordings.

Chess Records was one of the most influential record labels in the history of American popular music. Founded in 1950 by Leonard and Phil Chess in Chicago, Illinois, the label became the birthplace of Chicago Blues, Rhythm & Blues, and early Rock 'n' Roll. In the studio on South Michigan Avenue, legends such as Muddy Waters, Chuck Berry, Howlin' Wolf, Bo Diddley, and Etta James recorded their defining work. The recordings made there shaped the sound of an entire era and influenced generations of musicians worldwide — including the Rolling Stones and the Beatles, who cited Chess artists as their greatest inspirations. Today the historic building houses the Blues Heaven Foundation Museum, keeping the memory of Chess Records and its artists alive. The site is considered hallowed ground in American music history.