(WBBM NEWSRADIO) — You've probably driven by it several times, an unassuming storefront at 2120 S. Michigan Ave. Inside a two-story historic building is a living history of the blues and rock ‘n’ roll.
"This is the birthplace of Chicago blues. There aren't many cities that can claim a genre in itself like Chicago can," said Janine Judge, Executive Director, Blues Heaven Foundation.
Owned by two Polish brothers, in 1950, Chess Records found a home away from home for the blues in Chicago.
"The Chess brothers, Leonard and Phil Chess acquired Aristocrat Records first and they operated out of a building at 47th and Cottage Grove and three years later, they decided to change the name to Chess.
"They were one of the most successful record labels and the premiere blues label in the world. This is the only place in the world that was intentionally designed and built and managed to bring blues to the world and therefore rock ‘n’ roll."
Chess Records was based at several different locations on the South Side. The most famous location was at East 21st St. and Michigan Avenue from around 1956 to 1967.
"The last recording for Chess was prior to them moving out to move to another building just east of here at 320 E. 21st St. They moved to that building in 1967 because they needed more space. The last known recording was in January of 1967 and it was the ‘Super Blues’ album with Muddy Waters, Bo Diddley and Little Walter, a great album."
A specially designed stairway is significant to the building's design.
"The double stairway in the front is quite purposeful. It was put in so you wouldn't interrupt sessions. One goes up to the studio, one goes up to the control room."
The Blues Heaven Foundation is the non-profit that keeps the history alive.
"We are a 501(c)(3). Willie Dixon started the foundation in 1982 with the mission to help promote, protect and preserve blues. We adhere to that mission by holding tours by educating people about the history of blues, its present and hopefully its future.
Willie also wanted to make sure you could hear blues, how do you know you're going to like it if you haven't even heard it?”
Dixon started the very first Chicago Blues Fest, Chicago Fest, in 1969. It's now the largest free Blues Fest in the world.
Dixon was one of the main producers, songwriters, and arrangers of the signature "Chess Records Sound."
"Willie Dixon was the main contributor to the Chess brothers. He was not just a song writer, bass player, A&R man, talent agent, producer, arranger but literally the right hand man for the Chess brothers for many years. He wrote many of the songs that became hits recorded in this building and brought in many of the artists that became stars in their own rights."
Walk into Studio A and you can feel the magic that was once made in the room. A large photo on the wall features Willie Dixon, Muddy Waters and a very young Buddy Guy.
"This is where it all happened. Muddy Waters recorded here, Buddy Guy recorded here, Etta James recorded ‘At Last’ in this room, I could go on and on. How much time do you have?” Judge said with a laugh.
Chuck Berry recorded almost his entire career there. "Maybellene" became his first of many Top 40 hits including “Roll Over Beethoven,” “Johnny B. Goode," "Sweet Little Sixteen,” and “Rock and Roll Music.”
June 10 marks a significant anniversary.
"The Rolling Stones recorded here in June of 1964 and they happened to do an instrumental called 2120 S. Michigan Avenue, the address. This June we celebrate the 60th anniversary of their first sessions here at Chess. We have a special exhibition planned."
Judge says there will be Stones' exhibition tours that will be held through the month of June to coincide with their concert schedule at Soldier Field.
The 113-year-old building is also an historic landmark, but Judge says as is with any old structure, they need much needed repairs and restoration.
"There's always something to repair here. We hope to do fundraising to save the building from crumbling. We need many needed repairs. It's important to save and preserve a building such as this. When you think of the music that came out of this building, it was music that changed the world. Rock ‘n’ roll pretty much started here in this studio and that changed the world, didn't it?"
Judge said they get people stopping in from around the world, but it still remains a hidden treasure for many locals.
"People come by every day. We see 30 people at a time, sometimes we see two. Many Europeans know who Willie Dixon is. We're still trying to get the word out in Chicago that we are here."
Judge estimates they need several million dollars to repair the south side brickwork, to add an elevator to make it ADA accessible, to replace the front windows, and to restore the iconic control room.
She says preserving the building and its history is important to keep the blues alive for the next generation of musicians and music lovers.
"Younger people are surprised to know they have been listening to blues for a long time. We have a lot of young people who are getting involved in the blues community.
“When we complete the restoration of the control room and studio, we hope to get some of the old guys in first before we lose anymore of them and then we hope to open it for the younger generation as a place that is affordable to record and remains hallowed ground to so many."
As Judge looks around the space, she says she is reminded of the stories, the people and the music that changed the world.
"These walls, the echoes that are within these walls are now angels whispers in my ears. Every evening, I feel the vibe of these artists in this building. If these walls could talk, the stories they could tell," she smiled.
The Studio at 2120 S. Michigan Avenue was designated a Chicago Landmark on May 16, 1990.
Chess will celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Rolling Stones recording session next week and 75 years of the historic record label next year. The Record Row concert series is held every Thursday in Willie Dixon's Blues Garden through September.
"Willie always said 'the blues are the roots, the rest are the fruits' and that's true, just about every music except classical stems from blues."
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