CHECKERS, The
Homebase: Yakima, WA
Stats: 1958-1962
Misc Notes:
"THE CHECKERS: YAKIMA'S ROCKERS (1958-1962)"
by Peter Blecha
YAKIMA'S LEGENDARY ROCKABILLY KING, guitarist Jerry Lee Merritt, left his local band the Pacers in 1958 to join Gene Vincent for his riotous ‘59 overseas tour and one studio LP, Crazy Times. But that’s a whole ‘nother story... Meanwhile, the Pacers rocked on with new members including Mike Mandel (piano). The band held down a steady gig at the Walk-In Club -- Yakima's first teen hangout -- but were eventually ousted by crosstown rivals, the Rumblers. Around that time period another combo, the Checkers, were starting to create some noise in the Lower Yakima Valley. The original Checkers -- Bob Campbell (piano), Bob Torres (bass), Nick Torres (vocals), Johnny Hensley (guitar), Glen Dahl (vocals, bass) and Ralph Gibson (drums) -- performed their initial gigs at community festivals throughout the Inland Empire. By 1959 Lowell Fronek (drums) and Mike Metko (sax) had joined on. Metko, who worked at radio station KENE, arranged for the group to record their first instrumental-rock single, “The Big Cat”/“Buzz” live from the Toppenish Grange Hall. During this period the Checkers began making trips to the coast to face the Wailers, Frantics, Adventurers and others in Battles of the Bands. Hensley eventually left for Seattle, Campbell dropped out, Mandel was added and later, ex-Rumbler Doug Robertson (drums) joined on. By sheer chance the Checkers soon met a young guitarist, Larry Coryell, at Korton’s Music Store in Richland, and hired him on the spot. Earlier Metko’s radio connections got the group hired for a series of shows with singing sensation, Jimmy Bowen. This break led to a long string of gigs backing artists of the day: Brenda Lee, Buddy Knox, Jimmy Bowen, Paul Anka, Jimmy Clanton, the Mills Bros., Johnny Preston, Dorsey Burnette, Dodie Stevens, Gene Vincent and many others. In 1960 the Torres Bros. dropped out, ex-Rumbler, Dick Ruthardt (bass) was added and the Checkers proceeded to do some recording sessions with engineer, Joe Boles, in West Seattle...[Read more...]
ALSO SEE:
1.) RUMBLERS, The
2.) LANE, BARRY [AZ]
3.) LYNN, PEGGY [AZ]
4.) BURNETTE, DORSEY [CA]
MISC NOTES:
LOCATION: Toppenish [WA.] Grange hall
RECORDING PERSONNEL:
RECORDING STUDIO:
RECORDING ENGINEER:
FORMAT:disc
SIZE: 7"
SPEED: 45 rpm
DISC NOTES:
"Big Cat': March,1963: Re-issued as "Black Cat" (Jerden #710)
A-SIDE MATRIX:
A-SIDE STAMPER CODE:
A-SIDE COMPOSER: Mike Metko
A-SIDE PUBLISHER:
B-SIDE MATRIX:
B-SIDE STAMPER CODE:
B-SIDE COMPOSER: Mike Metko
B-SIDE PUBLISHER:
MISC NOTES:
LOCATION: Seattle, WA
RECORDING PERSONNEL: Mike Metko, Mike Mandel, Larry Coryell...
RECORDING STUDIO: Northwest Recorders
RECORDING ENGINEER:
FORMAT: acetate disc
SIZE: 7"
SPEED: 45 rpm
DISC NOTES:*
A-SIDE MATRIX:
A-SIDE STAMPER CODE:
A-SIDE COMPOSER:
A-SIDE PUBLISHER: Burdette Music
B-SIDE MATRIX:
B-SIDE STAMPER CODE:
B-SIDE COMPOSER:
B-SIDE PUBLISHER:
MISC NOTES: "Skooby Doo Pt. I" was popular enough in north central Washington to be included in the setlists of young rock bands. Later, in the early to mid 1960s, fledgling Wenatchee dance promoter, Joe Aumel, used "Skooby Do Pt. I" as the instrumental lead-in and background for his radio ads.
LOCATION: Seattle, WA
RECORDING PERSONNEL:
RECORDING STUDIO: Joe Boles Custom Recorders
RECORDING ENGINEER: Joe Boles
FORMAT: disc
SIZE: 7"
SPEED: 45 rpm
DISC NOTES:
A-SIDE MATRIX:
A-SIDE STAMPER CODE:
A-SIDE COMPOSER: Mike Mandell
A-SIDE PUBLISHER:
B-SIDE MATRIX:
B-SIDE STAMPER CODE:
B-SIDE COMPOSER: Mike Mandell
B-SIDE PUBLISHER:
MISC NOTES:
LOCATION: Seattle, WA
RECORDING PERSONNEL:
RECORDING STUDIO: Joe Boles Custom Recorders
RECORDING ENGINEER: Joe Boles
FORMAT: disc
SIZE: 7"
SPEED: 45 rpm
DISC NOTES:
A-SIDE MATRIX:
A-SIDE STAMPER CODE:
A-SIDE COMPOSER: George Evans - Ron Shields
A-SIDE PUBLISHER:
B-SIDE MATRIX:
B-SIDE STAMPER CODE:
B-SIDE COMPOSER: Mike Mandel
B-SIDE PUBLISHER:
MISC NOTES:
LOCATION: California
RECORDING PERSONNEL:
RECORDING STUDIO:
RECORDING ENGINEER:
FORMAT: disc
SIZE: 7"
SPEED: 45 rpm
DISC NOTES:
Known Label Variations:
1.) A - B promotional disc. White label with black lettering and numerals.
2.) A - B retail disc. Blue label with white lettering and numerals.
A-SIDE MATRIX:
A-SIDE STAMPER CODE:
A-SIDE COMPOSER: Johnny Burnette
A-SIDE PUBLISHER:
B-SIDE MATRIX:
B-SIDE STAMPER CODE:
B-SIDE COMPOSER: J. Bowen - C. Payne
B-SIDE PUBLISHER:
MISC NOTES:
"Black Cat" was/is a remake of the 1959 song "Big Cat" which had been released on Dottie Records (#45 - 1001). .
LOCATION: Seattle, WA
RECORDING PERSONNEL: Mike Mandel (piano); Larry Coryell (Guitar);
RECORDING STUDIO: Joe Boles Custom Recorders
RECORDING ENGINEER: Joe Boles
FORMAT: disc
SIZE: 7"
SPEED: 45 rpm
DISC NOTES:
Known Label Designs:
1RC.) A - B retail label Light blue background. Pinkish logo accents. Pinkish numerals and lettering except light blue Jerden.
1RC.) Monarch Records delta (^) numbers point toward this disc being pressed March - April,1963
A-SIDE MATRIX:
1RC.) 45 JERDEN - 26
A-SIDE STAMPER CODE:
1RC.) 45 - JERDEN - 26 (etched) ^47302
A-SIDE COMPOSER: Mike Metko - Mike Mandel
A-SIDE PUBLISHER: Burdette Music Co. (BMI)
B-SIDE MATRIX:
1RC.) 45 JERDEN - 27
B-SIDE STAMPER CODE:
1RC.) 45 - JERDEN - 27 (etched) ^47302 - X
B-SIDE COMPOSER: Mike Metko - Mike Mandel
B-SIDE PUBLISHER: Burdette Music Co. (BMI)
MISC NOTES:
Cataloged on Jerden, but never released under this number. See instead Jerden #710.
LOCATION:
RECORDING PERSONNEL:
RECORDING STUDIO:
RECORDING ENGINEER:
FORMAT: disc
SIZE:7"
SPEED: 45 rpm
DISC NOTES: