Checker Records

Checker Records was an American record label created in Chicago in 1952 by Leonard Chess and Phil Chess as a subsidiary of Chess Records. The imprint was developed during a period when Chess was expanding its roster and release schedule, giving the company an additional identity through which to issue singles and pursue radio exposure. Checker concentrated heavily on African American performers and became an important outlet for postwar blues, rhythm and blues, early rock and roll, gospel, doo-wop, and later soul music. The label's early catalog included recordings by saxophonist and bandleader Sax Mallard, whose "Slow Caboose" backed with "Darling, Let's Give Love a Chance" was issued as the first Checker single in April 1952. Checker soon became particularly associated with Little Walter, whose harmonica-led blues recordings produced a succession of successful rhythm-and-blues singles. His recording of "Juke" reached the top of the relevant Billboard chart and later entered the Grammy Hall of Fame, helping establish Checker as a significant blues imprint rather than merely a secondary outlet for Chess releases. Checker's roster extended well beyond Little Walter. Sonny Boy Williamson II achieved several charting releases for the label, including "Don't Start Me Talkin'" and "Keep It to Yourself." The company also issued work by established blues performers such as Elmore James, Arthur "Big Boy" Crudup, and Memphis Minnie, although their Checker releases did not consistently become commercial hits. Other artists connected with the label included Jimmy McCracklin, the Flamingos, the Moonglows, the Students, the Five Blind Boys of Mississippi, Aretha Franklin, Gene Chandler, and Dale Hawkins. The imprint played an especially important role in the development of rock and roll. Bo Diddley's first Checker single, recorded during a Chess session in March 1955, reached the top of the rhythm-and-blues charts and became one of the label's defining releases. His later Checker recording "Who Do You Love?" also became part of the enduring rock canon. In 1957, Checker entered the rockabilly and crossover market with Dale Hawkins's "Susie Q," which achieved substantial success outside the strictly defined rhythm-and-blues audience. Checker expanded from the singles market into albums in 1958 with The Best of Little Walter, its first 12-inch, 33 1/3 rpm LP. The label's album numbering initially followed a Chess-related 1425 series before moving to a 2970 series in 1959 and continuing through approximately 1970. This catalog connected the label's influential singles to a longer-form album program while preserving its association with blues and rhythm-and-blues performers. Leonard and Phil Chess sold Chess Records and its associated labels to General Recorded Tape in 1969. Checker continued briefly under the new ownership but was discontinued in 1971 as GRT consolidated the Chess-related catalogs. The Checker name therefore survives primarily as a historical imprint rather than an operating label. Its recordings are now part of the Universal Music Group-controlled Chess catalog and have subsequently been reissued through labels including Geffen Records and Chess.

Checker Records emerged from the rapid growth of Chess Records during the early 1950s. Leonard and Phil Chess created the subsidiary in Chicago in 1952 to increase the number of releases associated with their operation and to improve opportunities for radio play. The first Checker 45/78 rpm single was Sax Mallard and His Orchestra's "Slow Caboose," paired with "Darling, Let's Give Love a Chance," issued as Checker 750 in April of that year. The label quickly developed a strong identity in blues and rhythm and blues. Little Walter became its most commercially important early artist, placing ten Checker songs in the Top Ten of Billboard's rhythm-and-blues listings. His instrumental "Juke" was the most prominent of these successes, later receiving Grammy Hall of Fame recognition. Checker also released music by major blues figures including Elmore James, Arthur "Big Boy" Crudup, and Memphis Minnie. Although those artists did not all achieve major sales on the imprint, their presence reflected Checker's role in documenting and distributing Black American blues. Sonny Boy Williamson II supplied another important part of the catalog. His Checker releases included the charting songs "Don't Start Me Talkin'" in 1955, "Keep It to Yourself" in 1956, and "Help Me" in 1963. The imprint also moved across adjacent popular styles, issuing rhythm-and-blues material by performers such as Sax Mallard and Jimmy McCracklin, doo-wop by groups including the Flamingos, the Moonglows, and the Students, and gospel by the Five Blind Boys of Mississippi and other performers. Checker's greatest contribution to the emergence of rock and roll came through Bo Diddley. The Chess brothers recorded him on March 2, 1955, and his self-titled debut single on Checker became a number-one rhythm-and-blues hit. The record's distinctive beat and performance style made it a landmark in early rock and roll. Diddley's later Checker single "Who Do You Love?" also became a durable part of the genre's repertoire. In 1957, Dale Hawkins's "Susie Q" gave Checker a successful entry into rockabilly and crossover pop, even though Hawkins did not duplicate the single's full impact with subsequent releases. The label began issuing albums in 1958. The Best of Little Walter was Checker's first 12-inch, 33 1/3 rpm LP. Its initial album numbering was connected with Chess's 1425 series, while releases moved to a 2970 numbering sequence in 1959. The album program continued until about 1970 and complemented Checker's extensive singles catalog. Checker's later catalog included artists associated with gospel, soul, and pop-oriented rhythm and blues, among them Aretha Franklin and Gene Chandler. The label remained part of the wider Chess organization until 1969, when the Chess brothers sold the business to General Recorded Tape, shortly before Leonard Chess's death. Checker was discontinued in 1971 as GRT consolidated the Chess catalogs. The label is now remembered as a defunct but influential Chess imprint. Its recordings form part of the Chess catalog controlled by Universal Music Group and have been reissued through Geffen Records, Chess, and related catalog channels.

• 1971

  Label discontinued

  [1]Checker Recordsen.wikipedia.org

  Checker is ended during General Recorded Tape's consolidation of the Chess catalogs.

• 1969

  Chess operation sold to General Recorded Tape

  [1]Checker Recordsen.wikipedia.org

  The Chess brothers sell Chess and its associated labels to General Recorded Tape.

• 1958

  First Checker LP

  [1]Checker Recordsen.wikipedia.org

  The Best of Little Walter becomes the label's first 12-inch LP release.

• 1957

  Susie Q expands the label's crossover reach

  [1]Checker Recordsen.wikipedia.org

  Dale Hawkins's "Susie Q" gives Checker a notable rockabilly crossover success.

• 1955

  Bo Diddley's breakthrough on Checker

  [1]Checker Recordsen.wikipedia.org

  Bo Diddley's debut Checker single reaches the top of the rhythm-and-blues chart and becomes a landmark early rock-and-roll recording.

• 1952

  Checker Records is founded

  [1]Checker Recordsen.wikipedia.org

  Leonard and Phil Chess establish Checker as a subsidiary of Chess Records in Chicago. The first release is Sax Mallard and His Orchestra's "Slow Caboose."

A historically important American roots-music imprint specializing in blues and rhythm and blues while also serving as a launchpad for rock and roll, gospel, doo-wop, and soul artists.

• Singles · 1952

  Checker singles

  Checker's core output was its 45 and 78 rpm singles program. The releases covered blues, rhythm and blues, gospel, doo-wop, rock and roll, rockabilly, and soul. The format provided the main vehicle for Little Walter, Sonny Boy Williamson II, Bo Diddley, Dale Hawkins, and numerous other artists.

• Compilation LP · 1958

  The Best of Little Walter

  Issued in 1958, this album was Checker Records' first 12-inch, 33 1/3 rpm LP. It gathered material associated with one of the label's most successful artists and marked the imprint's expansion from a singles-focused operation into album releases.

• Albums · 1958

  Checker LP catalog

  Checker's album series initially used a numbering relationship with Chess's 1425 series, then moved to the 2970 series in 1959. The LP catalog continued until approximately 1970 and preserved blues, rhythm-and-blues, and related recordings in longer-form releases.

• 1971

  Consolidate the Checker catalogStrategy

  Background

  General Recorded Tape reorganized the Chess-related label catalogs after acquiring the business.

  Action taken

  Checker was discontinued as an active imprint and its recordings were consolidated with the wider Chess catalog.

  Aftermath

  The Checker name continued primarily through archival releases and reissues rather than new recordings.

  Source

• 1969

  Sell the Chess operation to General Recorded TapeM&A

  Background

  The Chess brothers decided to sell Chess Records and its associated imprints.

  Action taken

  General Recorded Tape acquired the Chess business, including Checker.

  Aftermath

  Checker remained active briefly but was later discontinued as the new owner consolidated the Chess-related catalogs.

  Source

• 1958

  Expand from singles into LP albumsProduct launch

  Background

  Checker had established a strong singles presence and sought to develop a longer-form catalog.

  Action taken

  The label issued The Best of Little Walter as its first 12-inch, 33 1/3 rpm LP.

  Aftermath

  Checker maintained an album series through approximately 1970, first linked to the Chess 1425 numbering system and later using the 2970 series.

  Source

• 1952

  Create a subsidiary label to expand Chess's release capacityStrategy

  Background

  Chess Records was expanding and sought additional opportunities for releases and radio airplay.

  Action taken

  Leonard and Phil Chess launched Checker Records as a separate imprint within the Chess operation.

  Aftermath

  Checker developed its own catalog and became a major outlet for blues, rhythm and blues, and early rock and roll.

  Source

• 1971

  Checker Records is discontinued[1]Checker Recordsen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  General Recorded Tape consolidated the Chess-related catalogs, bringing Checker to an end as an active label.

• 1969

  Chess Records and associated labels are sold to General Recorded Tape[1]Checker Recordsen.wikipedia.org

  M&A

  Leonard and Phil Chess sold the Chess operation, including its subsidiary imprints, to General Recorded Tape.

• 1958

  Checker enters the LP market with The Best of Little Walter[1]Checker Recordsen.wikipedia.org

  Product launch

  The label issued its first 12-inch, 33 1/3 rpm album, broadening its catalog beyond singles.

• 1955

  Bo Diddley makes his Checker debut[1]Checker Recordsen.wikipedia.org

  Product launch

  A March recording session produced Bo Diddley's first Checker single, which reached the top of the rhythm-and-blues charts and became a foundational rock-and-roll release.

• 1952

  Checker Records is established as a Chess Records subsidiary[1]Checker Recordsen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  The Chess brothers launched Checker in Chicago to expand the company's release program and create another route to radio exposure. Sax Mallard's "Slow Caboose" was the first listed Checker single.

1. 1Checker Recordsen.wikipedia.org