The Checkmates, Ltd. (60s/70s American R&B group known for their 1969 hit "Black Pearl")

The Checkmates, Ltd. were an American R&B group from Fort Wayne, Indiana. 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; their one major hit was 1969's "Black Pearl", produced by Phil Spector. The song peaked at No. 13 on the U.S. pop chart. Their remake of "Proud Mary" reached No. 30 on the UK Singles Chart in late 1969. The group broke up in 1970, but reunited in 1974 for a few more years. They performed on the same billing as Frank Sinatra and Herb Alpert, and sang the national anthem for the Thrilla in Manila in 1975. 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. Sonny Charles – lead vocals – (born Charles Hemphill, September 4, 1940, Blytheville, Arkansas) – Charles was later a vocalist with the Steve Miller Band. Bobby Stevens – vocals Harvey Trees – guitar Bill Van Buskirk – bass Marvin "Sweet Louie" Smith – drums, vocals Calvin Thomas – drums Jimmy Milton – vocals Joseph Ramirez - guitar Colin Larkin, ed. (1993). The Guinness Who's Who of Soul Music (First ed.). Guinness Publishing. p. 43. ISBN 0-85112-733-9. Whitburn, Joel (2000). The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits (7th ed.). Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 102. ISBN 1-904994-10-5. "Life in Legacy - Week of December 15, 2007". Lifeinlegacy.com. Archived from the original on December 20, 2008. "Seattletimes.nwsource.com – Obituary". Archived from the original on January 14, 2009. Graff, Gary (May 8, 2008). "Steve Miller Band Celebrates 40 Years With 'Live' DVD". Billboard. "Sonny Charles and the Checkmates, LTD. | Billboard 200". Billboard. "Sonny Charles and the Checkmates, LTD. | Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums". Billboard. "Sonny Charles and the Checkmates, LTD. | Billboard Hot 100". Billboard. "Sonny Charles and the Checkmates, LTD. | Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs". Billboard. Interviews with Bobby Stevens and Sonny Charles in Soul Express in May 2020 The Checkmates Ltd. story, part 2 - 1969-1975