We are currently migrating our data. We expect the process to take 24 to 48 hours before everything is back to normal.

Artist

The Checkmates Ltd.

Last updated: 12 hours ago

A '60s soul group, the Checkmates, Ltd. scored with one big hit, 1969's "Black Pearl." They were fronted by <a href="spotify:artist:52EK8SbYbZ54LoswxAdZEP">Sonny Charles</a>, who later scored a big hit in the early '80s as a solo act. The group earned some attention for its integrated roster; other members were Bobby Stevens, Harvey Trees, Bill Van Buskirk, and Marvin Smith. They were from Fort Wayne, IN, and were a discovery of <a href="spotify:artist:2JfVCMa3FlvQRlLT5uH9zb">Nancy Wilson</a>. They disbanded from 1970 to 1974, then returned for another shot and issued "All Alone by the Telephone" in 1976 for Polydor, which flopped. ~ Ron Wynn, Rovi

Monthly Listeners

10,421