What does the title Machers and Rockers mean?

The title uses the Yiddish word macher, which refers to an influential operator or big wheel, to describe the business-minded record executives who managed the artists behind the birth of rock and roll.

How does this book relate to the author's other work?

This book is part of a recurring interest in the author's bibliography regarding the history of Jewish immigrants in America, following his earlier exploration of Jewish gangsters in Tough Jews.

Machers and Rockers

Chess Records and the Business of Rock & Roll

Biography & Memoir History

Pages: 220
Published: 2004
Language: English

This book tells the story of Chess Records and the brothers Leonard and Phil Chess, who founded the legendary label. It chronicles their journey from Polish immigrants to pioneers of American music, shaping the sound of blues, rock and roll, and soul. Discover how their vision and determination brought iconic artists to the forefront and left an indelible mark on music history.

Prose complexity: 7/10

Informative Nostalgic Intellectual

Family Saga

Rich Cohen

Rich Cohen is an American non-fiction writer. He is a contributing editor at Vanity Fair and Rolling Stone magazines. He is co-creator, with Martin Scorsese, Mick Jagger and Terence Winter, of the HBO series Vinyl. - Wikipedia

Frequently asked questions

What does the title Machers and Rockers mean?
The title uses the Yiddish word macher, which refers to an influential operator or big wheel, to describe the business-minded record executives who managed the artists behind the birth of rock and roll.
How does this book relate to the author's other work?
This book is part of a recurring interest in the author's bibliography regarding the history of Jewish immigrants in America, following his earlier exploration of Jewish gangsters in Tough Jews.