Machers and Rockers: Chess Records and the Business of Rock & Roll (Enterprise)

"Rich Cohen is a born storyteller, and this tale of how Muddy Waters and Leonard Chess helped invent Rock & Roll in Chicago in the 1950s is a tough, funny and smart read. It's a big story, told in a big way." ―Jann Wenner A tour-de-force history of Jews, blues, and the birth of a new industry. On the south side of Chicago in the late 1940s, two immigrants, one a Jew born in Russia, the other a black blues singer from Mississippi met and changed the course of musical history. Muddy Waters electrified the blues, and Leonard Chess recorded it. Soon Bo Diddly and Chuck Berry added a dose of pulsating rhythm, and Chess Records captured that, too. Rock & roll had arrived, and an industry was born. In a book as vibrantly and exuberantly written as the music and people it portrays, Rich Cohen tells the engrossing story of how Leonard Chess, with the other record men, made this new sound into a multi-billion-dollar business aggressively acquiring artists, hard-selling distributors, riding the crest of a wave that would crash over a whole generation. Full of absorbing lore and animated by a deep love for popular music, Machers and Rockers is a smash hit. "Brilliant; the best book I have ever read about the recording industry; a classic."--Larry King On the south side of Chicago in the late 1940s, two immigrants; one a Jew born in Russia, the other a black blues singer from Mississippi; met and changed the course of musical history. Muddy Waters electrified the blues, and Leonard Chess recorded it. Soon Bo Diddly and Chuck Berry added a dose of pulsating rhythm, and Chess Records captured that, too. Rock & Roll had arrived, and an industry was born. In a book as vibrantly and exuberantly written as the music and people it portrays, Rich Cohen tells the engrossing story of how Leonard Chess, with the other record men, made this new sound into a multi-billion-dollar business; aggressively acquiring artists, hard-selling distributors, riding the crest of a wave that would crash over a whole generation. Originally published in hardcover as Machers and Rockers. About the series: Enterprise pairs distinguished writers with stories of the economic forces that have shaped the modern worlds; the institutions, the entrepreneurs, the ideas. Enterprise introduces a new genre; the business book as literature. 12 illustrations A tour-de-force history of Jews, blues, and the birth of a new industry. On the south side of Chicago in the late 1940s, two immigrantsone a Jew born in Russia, the other a black blues singer from Mississippimet and changed the course of musical history. Muddy Waters electrified the blues, and Leonard Chess recorded it. Soon Bo Diddly and Chuck Berry added a dose of pulsating rhythm, and Chess Records captured that, too. Rock & roll had arrived, and an industry was born. In a book as vibrantly and exuberantly written as the music and people it portrays, Rich Cohen tells the engrossing story of how Leonard Chess, with the other record men, made this new sound into a multi-billion-dollar businessaggressively acquiring artists, hard-selling distributors, riding the crest of a wave that would crash over a whole generation. Full of absorbing lore and animated by a deep love for popular music, Machers and Rockers is a smash hit. 12 illustrations. Author Biography: Rich Cohen, a contributing editor at Rolling Stone , is the author of Tough Jews, The Avengers , and Lake Effect . He lives in New York City.

On the south side of Chicago in the late 1940s, two immigrants; one a Jew born in Russia, the other a black blues singer from Mississippi; met and changed the course of musical history. Muddy Waters electrified the blues, and Leonard Chess recorded it. Soon Bo Diddly and Chuck Berry added a dose of pulsating rhythm, and Chess Records captured that, too. Rock & roll had arrived, and an industry was born. In a book as vibrantly and exuberantly written as the music and people it portrays, Rich Cohen tells the engrossing story of how Leonard Chess, with the other record men, made this new sound into a multi-billion-dollar business; aggressively acquiring artists, hard-selling distributors, riding the crest of a wave that would crash over a whole generation. Originally published in hardcover as Machers and Rockers. About the series: Enterprise pairs distinguished writers with stories of the economic forces that have shaped the modern worlds; the institutions, the entrepreneurs, the ideas. Enterprise introduces a new genre; the business book as literature.

On The South Side Of Chicago In The Late 1940s, Two Immigrants - One A Jew Born In Russia, The Other A Black Blues Singer From Mississippi - Met And Changed The Course Of Musical History. Muddy Waters Electrified The Blues, And Leonard Chess Recorded It. Soon Bo Diddley And Chuck Berry Added A Dose Of Pulsating Rhythm, And Chess Records Captured That, Too. Rock & Roll Had Arrived, And An Industry Was Born. Rich Cohen Tells The Engrossing Story Of How Chess, With The Other Record Men, Made This New Sound Into A Multi-billion-dollar Business - Aggressively Acquiring Artists, Strong-arming Distributors, Riding The Crest Of A Wave That Would Crash Over A Whole Generation.--jacket. Today You Are A Man, Go Get Me A Drink -- Jew Street -- They Call It The Blues, But It Makes You Want To Dance -- 2120 South Michigan -- The Kids Dig It, But The Kids Are Sick -- The Record Man Pays For Our Sins. Rich Cohen. Atlas Books. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 199-209) And Index. "On the South Side of Chicago in the late 1940s, two immigrants - one a Jew born in Russia, the other a black Blues singer from Mississippi - met and changed the course of musical history. Muddy Waters electrified the Blues, and Leonard Chess recorded it. Soon Bo Diddley and Chuck Berry added a dose of pulsating rhythm, and Chess Records captured that, too. Rock & Roll had arrived, and an industry was born." "Rich Cohen tells the engrossing story of how Chess, with the other record men, made this new sound into a multi-billion-dollar business - aggressively acquiring artists, strong-arming distributors, riding the crest of a wave that would crash over a whole generation."--BOOK JACKET. Today you are a man, go get me a drink Jew Street They call it the blues, but it makes you want to dance 2120 South Michigan The kids dig it, but the kids are sick The record man pays for our sins Sources Suggested listening Acknowledgments Index Examines the origins of urban blues and rock 'n' roll music, explaining how a group of African-Americans in Chicago joined with a group of Jews recently arrived from Eastern Europe to create and market a product that transformed the music world