Checker Records is a defunct record label that was started in 1952 as a subsidiary of Chess Records in Chicago, Illinois. The label was founded by the Chess brothers, Leonard and Phil, who ran the label until they sold it to General Recorded Tape (GRT) in 1969, shortly before Leonard's death.
The label released recordings by mostly African American artists and groups. Checker's releases cover a wide range of genres including blues (Little Walter, Sonny Boy Williamson II), rhythm and blues (Sax Mallard, Jimmy McCracklin), doo-wop (The Flamingos, The Moonglows, The Students), gospel (Aretha Franklin, Five Blind Boys of Mississippi), rock and roll (Bo Diddley, Dale Hawkins), and soul (Gene Chandler).
The label was discontinued in 1971 following GRT's consolidation of the Chess catalogs. As with Cadet and Chess, the label's catalog is now owned by Universal Music Group and releases from the Checker catalog are released by Geffen Records and Chess.
History Due to the recent expansion of Chess Records, as well as to achieve greater airplay for singles, the Chess brothers opened up a subsidiary label named Checker. The first 45/78 rpm single released by the label was "Slow Caboose" b/w "Darling, Let's Give Love a Chance" by Sax Mallard and his Orchestra, which was released as Checker 750 in April 1952.
The label's most popular artist, in the label's early years, was Little Walter, who had ten songs released by Checker that made the Top Ten of Billboard magazine's Top Rhythm & Blues Records charts. Among those ten was "Juke" which topped the charts and was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2008.
Checker released several singles by well-established blues artists such as Elmore James, Arthur "Big Boy" Crudup (credited as Perry Lee Crudup), and Memphis Minnie, none of which sold well. One well-established blues artist that did manage to make a hit on Checker was Sonny Boy Williamson II, who charted with "Don't Start Me Talkin'" (number 3) in 1955, "Keep It to Yourself" (number 14) in 1956, and "Help Me" (number 24) in 1963.
On March 2, 1955, the Chess brothers recorded their first rock and roll artist, Bo Diddley. From this session came Bo's self-titled debut single on Checker, which topped the R&B charts and was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1998. Another one of Bo Diddley's Checker singles, "Who Do You Love?", was inducted in 2010. In 1957, Checker cracked into the rockabilly market with Dale Hawkins, who had a crossover hit with "Susie Q", although he could not repeat the single's success.
In 1958, Checker released its first 12" 33⅓ rpm LP record, The Best of Little Walter, which was released as Checker LP-1428.Past Hall of Fame Inductees . Blues Foundation. Go under 1991 Hall of Fame Inductees and click on The Best of Little Walter--Little Walter (Checker, 1958) to view the album review.
Discography The original Checker LP series started with six albums released as part of the Chess 1425 album series before switching to the 2970 series in 1959 and continued until 1970.Both Sides Now: Chess Album Discography, Part 1: LP-1425 to LPS-1553 and CHV-400 Vintage Series accessed August 27, 2019.Both Sides Now: Checker Album Discography (1957–1971) accessed August 27, 2019. Catalog No. Album Artist DetailsLP-1428The Best of Little WalterLittle WalterLP-1429Oh! Suzy-QLP-1431Bo DiddleyLP-1433The FlamingosLP-1436Go Bo DiddleyLP-1437Down and Out BluesLP-2971Keeping TabLP-2973Love Those GoodiesVarious ArtistsLP-2974Have Guitar Will TravelLP-2975Hits That JumpedVarious ArtistsLP-2976Bo Diddley in the SpotlightLP-2977Bo Diddley Is a GunslingerLP-2978Watusi!LP-2979Sugar Pie DeSantoLP-2980Bo Diddley Is a LoverLP-2981Twist with Steve AlaimoLP-2982Bo Diddley's a TwisterLP-2983Mashed PotatoesLP-2984Bo DiddleyLP-2985Bo Diddley & CompanyLP-2986Every Day I Have to CryLP-2987Surfin' with Bo DiddleyLP-2988Bo Diddley's Beach PartyLP-2989Bo Diddley's 16 All Time Greatest HitsLP-2990Hi-Heel SneakersLP/LPS-2991Two Great Guitars and Chuck BerryLP-2992Hey Good Lookin'LP-2993Hold On! It's Joe TexLP/LPS-2994Dance with Daddy "G"LP/LPS-2995We're Gonna Make ItLittle MiltonLP/LPS-2996500% More ManLP/LPS-2997The "New" LookLP/LPS-2998Sing a Song of SoulVarious ArtistsLP/LPS-3000Searching for My LoveBobby Moore & the Rhythm AcesLP/LPS-3001The OriginatorLP/LPS-3002Little Milton Sings Big BluesLittle MiltonLP/LPS-3003The Duke of SoulLP-3004The Best of Little WalterLittle Walterreissue of Checker LP-1428LPS-3005The Flamingosreissue of Checker LP-1433LP-3006Go Bo Diddleyreissue of Checker LP-1436LP-3007Boss Manreissue of Checker LP-1431LP/LPS-3008Super BluesBo Diddley, , and Little WalterLP/LPS-3010The Super Super Blues BandHowlin' Wolf, Muddy Waters and Bo DiddleyLPS-3011Grits Ain't GroceriesLittle MiltonLPS-3012If Walls Could TalkLittle MiltonLPS-3013The Black GladiatorLPS-3014In the Beginning...Various ArtistsLPS-3015Hot WheelsLPS-3016Born to Love MeCK-3017The Prayer
See also List of record labels Checker Records albums Checker Records singles
References
External links
Checker Records on the Internet Archive's Great 78 Project