The Chicago Chapter, established in 1961, was the third Recording Academy Chapter to be initiated. At the time, Recording Academy National President Bob York looked to Chicago and Nashville to carry some of the increasing responsibilities of the Academy between the coastal offices of New York and Los Angeles. Chicago was chosen because it was one of the biggest recording centers of the time. The many active major and independent record companies thriving in Chicago included Chess, Checker, Columbia, RCA, CBS, Mercury and Cadet.
