UNSUNG HEROES OF SOUL #Chess Records

Born in St. Louis, Fontella Bass recorded in Chicago and is best remembered for the 1965 smash, "Rescue Me."

In 1964, Mitty Collier transformed a James Cleveland gospel classic into an R&B smash.

Laura Lee's attitude-laden recordings for Chess and Hot Wax made her soul music’s first unabashed feminist.

In the early 1960s, the Radiants made a series of recordings for Chess that helped expedite the transition from doo-wop to soul.

Despite an extensive catalog of high-quality soul, Jackie Ross never transcended "one-hit wonder" status.

Nicknamed the Soul Queen of New Orleans, Irma Thomas never attained the level of commercial success enjoyed by some of her contemporaries; but it wasn't for lack of talent or tenacity.