Checker

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For all Unofficial / Bootleg copies of this label please us Checker (2) Checker Records is an inactive 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), 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. Guide to label designs for 45s (date ranges are approximate) -- can be used to identify and roughly date represses/reissues: 1952-1957: Maroon "web top" logo (final one might be #876: Dale Hawkins - Baby, Baby / Mrs. Merguitory's Daughter but continued to be used on 78s into 1958) 1957-1966: Maroon vertically-printed Checker on left side of labels (overlaps later designs by a few years, perhaps one pressing plant just kept on using this label stock. Final one seems to be Checker #1135: Koko Taylor - Wang Dang Doodle / Blues Heaven) 1963-1965: Blue with checker game pieces logo (but was used at least twice in early-to-mid 1966: Koko Taylor - Wang Dang Doodle / Blues Heaven and Fontella Bass - I Surrender / I Can't Rest) 1965-1970: Blue-to-white gradient with red/white/blue Checker logo Label code: LC 0155 / LC 00155