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Checkmates, Ltd.

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The Checkmates, Ltd. were an American R&B group from Fort Wayne, Indiana.[1] The group, discovered by Nancy Wilson, was named such because the group included both black and white members, and their various skin tones evoked a chessboard;[1] their one major hit was 1969's "Black Pearl", produced by Phil Spector.[1] The song peaked at No. 13 on the U.S. pop chart.[2] Their remake of "Proud Mary" reached No. 30 on the UK Singles Chart in late 1969.[3]

The group broke up in 1970, but reunited in 1974 for a few more years.[1] They performed on the same billing as Frank Sinatra and Herb Alpert, and sang the national anthem for the Thrilla in Manila in 1975.[4] Lead singer Sonny Charles later had a moderately successful career as a solo artist. Charles and Marvin ("Sweet Louie") Smith later reunited and toured the U.S. into the 2000s.

Smith died on December 15, 2007, of a heart attack, while on a cruise ship in the Caribbean where he and Sonny Charles were scheduled to perform. He was 68.[4][5]

Members

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  • Sonny Charles – lead vocals – (born Charles Hemphill, September 4, 1940, Blytheville, Arkansas)[2] – Charles was later a vocalist with the Steve Miller Band.[6]
  • Bobby Stevens – vocals[1]
  • Harvey Trees – guitar[1]
  • Bill Van Buskirk – bass[1]
  • Marvin "Sweet Louie" Smith – drums, vocals[1]
  • Calvin Thomas – drums
  • Jimmy Milton – vocals
  • Joseph Ramirez - guitar

Discography

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Albums

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Year Album Peak chart
positions
Record label
US
[7]
US R&B
[8]
1967 Live! at Caesar's Palace 36 Capitol Records
1969 Love Is All We Have to Give 178 A&M Records
1971 Life Rustic Records
1974 F/S/O
1977 We Got the Moves Fantasy Records
Sould Out Gucci Records
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory.

Singles

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Year Title Peak chart
positions
Record Label B-side Album
US
[9]
US R&B
[10]
UK
[3]
AUS
1966 "Do the Walk (The Temptation Walk)" Capitol Records "Glad for You"
"Kissin' Her and Crying for You" "I Can Hear the Rain"
1967 "Please Don't Take My World Away" "Mastered the Art of Love"
"Walk in the Sunlight" "A & I"
1969 "Love Is All I Have to Give" 65 31 A&M Records "Never Should Have Lied" Love Is All We Have to Give
"Black Pearl" 13 8 31 "Lazy Susan"
"Proud Mary" 69 30 "Spanish Harlem"
1970 "I Keep Forgettin'" "Do You Love Your Baby"
1974 "Sexy Ways" Rustic Records "Run Nigger Run" F/S/O
"Got to See "U" Soon" "Might Get Betta"
1976 "All Alone by the Telephone" 96 Polydor Records "Body Language"
1977 "I'm Laying My Heart on the Line" Greedy Records "Make Love to Your Mind"
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory.

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h Colin Larkin, ed. (1993). The Guinness Who's Who of Soul Music (First ed.). Guinness Publishing. p. 43. ISBN 0-85112-733-9.
  2. ^ a b Whitburn, Joel (2000). The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits (7th ed.).
  3. ^ a b Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 102. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
  4. ^ a b "Life in Legacy - Week of December 15, 2007". Lifeinlegacy.com. Archived from the original on December 20, 2008.
  5. ^ "Seattletimes.nwsource.com – Obituary". Archived from the original on January 14, 2009.
  6. ^ Graff, Gary (May 8, 2008). "Steve Miller Band Celebrates 40 Years With 'Live' DVD". Billboard.
  7. ^ "Sonny Charles and the Checkmates, LTD. | Billboard 200". Billboard.
  8. ^ "Sonny Charles and the Checkmates, LTD. | Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums". Billboard.
  9. ^ "Sonny Charles and the Checkmates, LTD. | Billboard Hot 100". Billboard.
  10. ^ "Sonny Charles and the Checkmates, LTD. | Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs". Billboard.
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