Danny Diaz & the Checkmates were a Filipino rock band, based in Hong Kong in the 1960s.
Background They were part of the Hong Kong beat group scene between 1964 and 1969, that included other Hong Kong groups, such as Anders Nelson & the Inspiration, D'Topnotes, Fabulous Echoes, Joe Jr. & the Side Effects, Teddy Robin & the Playboys, Lotus, Magic Carpets, Mod East and Mystics and the Thunderbirds.Anders Nelsson. Hong Kong 60s Re-capture. 1 Joe Jr. plus interview by Edwyn Tam Chi Wai . 60spunk.m78.com (2001-02-09). Retrieved on 2013-07-23.An introduction to the music scene which flourished in Hong Kong, Macau and Singapore in 1964–1969 . Tofu-magazine.net. Retrieved on 2013-07-23. They entered into a "Battle of the Sound" contest and conquered various groups, and in the final beat Teddy Robin & the Playboys to become the winner. Some recordings were released on the Diamond label. In the late 1960s, they covered a song that the Foundations had released, the Eric Allandale composition "Solomon Grundy".
Career 1960s In 1964, Danny Diaz and the Checkmates released the single "Wonderful World" backed with "Stand by Me" on Diamond. Interestingly on the single, the A-side was credited to Barbara Campbell.45Cat - Danny Diaz And The Checkmates - Discography, Hong Kong The song was originally composed by Lou Alder and Herb Alpert with additional input from Sam Cooke.Song Bar, March 18, 2017 - Sam Cooke – Wonderful World On the week ending December 12, 1964, the single entered the Hong Kong top ten at No. 8.Billboard, December 12, 1964 - Page 19 Billboard HITS OF THE WORLD, HONG KONG, This Week 8, Last Week _ On the week ending December 26, it was at No. 6.Billboard, December 26, 1964 - Page 14 Billboard HITS OF THE WORLD, HONG KONG, This Week 6, Last Week 8 On the week ending January 2, 1965 it reached its peak position of No. 3.Billboard, January 2, 1965 - Page 19 Billboard HITS OF THE WORLD, HONG KONG, This Week 3, Last Week 6Billboard, January 9, 1965 - Page 21 Billboard HITS OF THE WORLD (note: no statistics for Hong Kong on this week)Billboard, January 16, 1965 - Page 19 Billboard HITS OF THE WORLD, HONG KONG, This Week 4, Last Week 3 It stayed in the charts until the week ending January 23.Billboard, January 23, 1965 - Page 22 Billboard HITS OF THE WORLD, HONG KONG, This Week 7, Last Week 4Billboard, January 30, 1965 - Page 20 Billboard HITS OF THE WORLD (note: no statistics for Hong Kong on this week)Billboard, February 6, 1965 - Billboard HITS OF THE WORLD, HONG KONG
In 1966, the group released "It's So Easy" b/w "She's So Fine" on Diamond.Popsike - Danny Diaz & the Checkmates - Its so easy/ She's so fine -Hong Kong BEAT 45 It was also released in Australia on the Stateside label.Popsike - DANNY DIAZ AND THE CHECKMATES SHE'S SO FINE (EASYBEATS) AUSSIE 60's MOD BEAT
In 1969, they recorded the song "Solomon Grundy" backed with "Goodbye Baby" which was released in the UK on Pye.Sixties Beat - Pye Records - U.K. Singles Discography (1963-1969) Having won the "Battle of the Bands" competition, which was organized by Levi Strauss, and a $10,000 recording contract with Trend Records,Record Mirror, No. 413 February 8th, 1969 - Page 10 NAMES & FACES PETER JONESAlamy - Music - Danny Diaz & the Checkmates - Marble Arch, London, More information: they were pictured in the February 8 issue of Record Mirror with composer Eric Allandale and two other Foundations members, Alan Warner and Tony Gomez. The Foundations were hosting the group who were in London for the single's launch,Record Mirror, No. 413 February 8th, 1969 - Page 10 NAMES & FACES PETER JONES and Foundations manager Barry Class had arranged for them to visit the UK.Cash Box, February 1, 1969 - Page 60 Cash Box Great Britain
1970s to 1990s In the 1970s, Danny Diaz formed the Danny Diaz trio with his brothers Rudy and Romeo.
Around the mid-1970s, Danny Diaz moved to Canada.South China Morning Post, 31 Oct, 1997 - A blast from the past
Discography Singles "Solomon Grundy" / "Goodbye Baby", Pye "What Ever Happened to Romance", Jewel
Compilation appearances Diamond Records Best Selection - "It's So Easy" and "Up Up and Away"Album discography. Groups.msn.com. Retrieved on 2013-07-23. (four-CD compilation) (2006), Universal Music (HK) Krazy World World Beaters 4 - "She's So Fine" (2005)Album review. Progressive.homestead.com. Retrieved on 2013-07-23.
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