Danny Diaz & The Checkmates

Danny Diaz & The Checkmates were a Filipino rock band, based in Hong Kong in the 1960s.

Danny Diaz & The Checkmates in Amsterdam in 1969

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.[1][2] 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 record 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 D.224 X 45. Interestingly on the single, the A side was credited to Barbara Campbell.[3] The song was originally composed by Lou Alder and Herb Alpert with additional input from Sam Cooke.[4] On the week ending December 12, 1964, the single entered the Hong Kong Top Ten at no. 8.[5] On week ending December 26, it was at no. 6.[6] On the week ending January 2, 1965 it reached its peak position of no. 3.[7][8][9] It stayed in the charts until the week ending January 23.[10][11][12]

In 1966, the group released " It's So Easy" bw "She's So Fine" on Diamond D.240 X 45.[13] It was also released on Australia on Stateside OSS 259.[14]

In 1969, they recorded the song "Solomon Grundy" backed with "Goodbye Baby" which was released in the UK on Pye 7N 17690.[15] Having won the "Battle of the Bands" competition, which was organized by Levi Strauss, and a $10,000 recoding contract with Trend Records[16][17] 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, [18] and Foundations manager Barry Class had arranged for them to come to the UK.[19]

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.[20]

Discography
  • "Solomon Grundy" / "Goodbye Baby" – Pye Records 7N.17690
  • "What Ever Happened to Romance" – Jewel 71387

Compilation albums
  • Diamond Records Best Selection (Four CD) – Various artists – Universal Music (HK) (2006)
    • "It's So Easy"
    • "Up Up And Away"[21]
  • Krazy World World Beaters 4 – Various Artists (2005)

References
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Danny Diaz & The Checkmates.
  1. Anders Nelsson. Hong Kong 60s Re-capture. 1 Joe Jr. plus interview by Edwyn Tam Chi Wai Archived 2007-03-07 at the Wayback Machine. 60spunk.m78.com (2001-02-09). Retrieved on 2013-07-23.
  2. An introduction to the music scene which flourished in Hong Kong, Macau and Singapore in 1964–1969 Archived 2012-09-14 at archive.today. Tofu-magazine.net. Retrieved on 2013-07-23.
  3. 45Cat - Danny Diaz And The Checkmates - Discography, Hong Kong
  4. Song Bar, March 18, 2017 - Sam Cooke – Wonderful World
  5. Billboard, December 12, 1964 - Page 19 Billboard HITS OF THE WORLD, HONG KONG, This Week 8, Last Week _
  6. Billboard, December 26, 1964 - Page 14 Billboard HITS OF THE WORLD, HONG KONG, This Week 6, Last Week 8
  7. Billboard, January 2, 1965 - Page 19 Billboard HITS OF THE WORLD, HONG KONG, This Week 3, Last Week 6
  8. Billboard, January 9, 1965 - Page 21 Billboard HITS OF THE WORLD (note: no statistics for Hong Kong on this week)
  9. Billboard, January 16, 1965 - Page 19 Billboard HITS OF THE WORLD, HONG KONG, This Week 4, Last Week 3
  10. Billboard, January 23, 1965 - Page 22 Billboard HITS OF THE WORLD, HONG KONG, This Week 7, Last Week 4
  11. Billboard, January 30, 1965 - Page 20 Billboard HITS OF THE WORLD (note: no statistics for Hong Kong on this week)
  12. Billboard, February 6, 1965 - Billboard HITS OF THE WORLD, HONG KONG
  13. Popsike - Danny Diaz & the Checkmates - Its so easy/ She's so fine -Hong Kong BEAT 45
  14. Popsike - DANNY DIAZ AND THE CHECKMATES SHE'S SO FINE (EASYBEATS) AUSSIE 60's MOD BEAT
  15. Sixties Beat - Pye Records - U.K. Singles Discography (1963-1969)
  16. Record Mirror, No. 413 February 8th, 1969 - Page 10 NAMES & FACES PETER JONES
  17. Alamy - Music - Danny Diaz & the Checkmates - Marble Arch, London, More information:
  18. Record Mirror, No. 413 February 8th, 1969 - Page 10 NAMES & FACES PETER JONES
  19. Cash Box, February 1, 1969 - Page 60 Cash Box Great Britain
  20. South China Morning Post, 31 Oct, 1997 - A blast from the past
  21. Album discography. Groups.msn.com. Retrieved on 2013-07-23.
  22. Album review. Progressive.homestead.com. Retrieved on 2013-07-23.


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