The Checkmates, Ltd.
The Checkmates, Ltd. are an American R&B group from Fort Wayne, Indiana. The
band was discovered by Nancy Wilson and included both black and white members,
with their various skin tones evoking a chessboard, hence the name. Their
breakthrough came in 1969 with "Black Pearl", produced by Phil Spector, which
peaked at number 13 on the U.S. pop chart. The group's remake of "Proud Mary"
reached number 30 on the UK Singles Chart later that year. They released their
debut album Love Is All We Have To Give in 1967, performing alongside notable
artists such as Frank Sinatra and Herb Alpe...
