Major force behind Chicago as blues capital

In this undated photo, from left, Leonard Chess, Marshall Chess and Phil Chess stand together for a photo in Chicago. Phil Chess, co-founder of a Chicago record label that amassed perhaps the most influential blues catalog, has died. He was 95. Nephew Craig Glicken told the Chicago Sun-Times on Wednesday Oct. 19, 2016, that Chess died overnight in Tucson, Arizona. Chess and his brother, Leonard, founded Chess Records in 1950, a label that included such stalwarts as Muddy Waters, Howlin' Wolf, Chuck Berry and Etta James. (Chicago Sun-Times via AP)

In this undated photo from left, Phil Chess and Leonard Chess stand outside their Chess Records headquarters in Chicago. Phil Chess, co-founder of a Chicago record label that amassed perhaps the most influential blues catalog, has died. He was 95. Nephew Craig Glicken told the Chicago Sun-Times on Wednesday Oct. 19, 2016, that Chess died overnight in Tucson, Arizona. Chess and his brother, Leonard, founded Chess Records in 1950, a label that included such stalwarts as Muddy Waters, Howlin' Wolf, Chuck Berry and Etta James. (Chicago Sun-Times via AP)

This undated photo provided by Philadelphia International Records shows Robert "Big Sonny" Edwards, an original member of pioneering Philadelphia soul group The Intruders. Edwards died Saturday, Oct. 15, 2016 at a Philadelphia hospital after suffering a heart attack at his home. He was 74. (Philadelphia International Records via AP)

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Chess Records co-founder, Phil Chess, who with brother Leonard helped launch the careers of Chuck Berry, Howlin’ Wolf, Muddy Waters and others and amassed a catalog of rock and electric “Chicago” blues that profoundly influenced popular music in the 1950s and beyond, has died. He was 95.

Started in Chicago by Leonard and Phil in 1950, Chess Records was home to many of the major blues artists of the following two decades and also took on such musical pioneers as Berry, Etta James and Ike Turner, whose “Rocket 88” is considered one of the earliest rock songs. Chess’ rise helped mark the migration North of such Southern-born blacks as Waters and Wolf and the transition of the blues from acoustic to electric, with hard-hitting arrangements that the Rolling Stones, Eric Clapton and other white stars openly drew upon.

One of today’s greatest bluesmen, Buddy Guy, credited the label with raising Chicago’s status to the capital of blues.

• Kevin Meaney, a comic’s comic who worked the standup circuit, was a staple on late-night TV and starred in the short-lived 1990s CBS series “Uncle Buck,” has died at age 60, his agent said Saturday.

Meaney was found dead Friday at his home in Forestburgh, in upstate New York, said the agent, Tom Ingegno. The cause of death was not immediately known.

Meaney’s career spanned 30 years. The father and native New Yorker had a small role as an executive in the 1988 film comedy “Big,” starring Tom Hanks, and helmed the CBS version of “Uncle Buck,” which ran just one season, from 1990 to 1991.

It was his first HBO special, in 1986, that launched his comedy career after he toiled doing standup in San Francisco and Boston.

In 1987, he took his first turn on “The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson.” He also appeared as a guest on “Saturday Night Live” and on shows including those hosted by David Letterman, Oprah Winfrey and Conan O’Brien.

• Simone Schaller, an American hurdler who competed at the 1932 and 1936 Summer Games and was believed to be the oldest living Olympian, has died. She was 104.

• Junko Tabei, the first woman to climb Mount Everest, has died, Japanese media reported. She was 77.

• Gail Cogdill, a star receiver for the Detroit Lions and the NFL rookie of the year in 1960, has died. He was 79.

• The Detroit Free Press says sports columnist Drew Sharp has died. He was 56.

• Fashion designer Richard Nicoll has died of a suspected heart attack, his family said. He was 39.

• Tommy Bartlett, who coached the Florida men’s basketball team for seven seasons, has died. He was 88.

Bartlett had a 95-85 record at Florida from 1966-73. He also coached Chattanooga from 1958-62 and was 56-38.

• Thom Jones, an acclaimed short-story writer who drew upon family tragedy and his own painful struggles for “The Pugilist At Rest” and other collections, has died.

• An original member of the pioneering Philadelphia-based soul group The Intruders has died. Robert “Big Sonny” Edwards was 74.

After forming in 1960 as a doo-wop group, The Intruders signed with Gamble and Huff in 1966 and helped define the smooth, soulful Philadelphia Sound. Their 1968 smash, “Cowboys to Girls,” topped the R&B charts and was the first hit song for Gamble and Huff.

• Mystery and crime fiction writer Edward Gorman has died.

Gorman, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, was the author of dozens of mystery novels, including the Sam McCain, Jack Dwyer and Dev Conrad series. He set much of his fiction in small Midwestern towns. His novel The Poker Club was adapted into a 2008 film with the same title.

• Dennis Byrd was an inspiration for far more than anything he ever accomplished on a football field.

He was able to walk again.

And with each step he took toward recovery from paralysis while guided by his always-present faith, Byrd defied doctors’ grim predictions and became a symbol of perseverance and hope.

The former NFL defensive lineman whose career was ended by a neck injury was killed in a car accident. He was 50.

Byrd played with the New York Jets for three years.