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]