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 from a heart attack on December 15, 2007, while on a cruise ship in the Caribbean, where he and Sonny Charles were scheduled to perform. He was 68. Stevens died on December 7, 2024, at the age of 85. Trees died from a ruptured aortic aneurysm on June 23, 2026, at the age of 86.
Members 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
Discography Albums YearAlbumPeak chartpositionsRecord label US US R&B 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 YearTitlePeak chartpositionsRecord LabelB-sideAlbum US US R&B UK 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
External links Interviews with Bobby Stevens and Sonny Charles in Soul Express in May 2020 The Checkmates Ltd. story, part 2 - 1969-1975