b. 20 March 1908, Detroit, Michigan, USA, d. 1977, Detroit, Michigan, USA. Early in his career, Chester played tenor saxophone with various bands, including those led by Irving Aaronson, Ben Bernie and Ben Pollack. He then turned to bandleading, forming his first outfit in Detroit. Although he had only limited success during the swing era, Chester’s band always played music of a high quality. He employed good sidemen, among them trumpeters Alec Fila and Conrad Gozzo, saxophonists Herbie Steward and Peanuts Hucko and trombonist Bill Harris. Chester also displayed a good ear for singers, employing Bob Haymes, Gene Howard, Betty Bradley and Dolores O’Neill. At first the band was limited through Chester’s decision to imitate the sound of the Glenn Miller band but in the early 40s he hired new arrangers, including David Rose, who helped to create a more individual style. By the mid-40s Chester had been forced to disband, but before the decade was out he had returned for another spell in the dance band business. By the early 50s, however, he had seen the writing on the wall and decided to retire.