voc, h, bvoc, *1940 US, Fort Wayne, Indiana
Singer / Musician of R&B/Soul
A.k.a. Charles Hemphill
Sonny Charles (born Charles Hemphill, 4 September 1940) is an American soul singer from Fort Wayne, Indiana. He was the lead singer of Checkmates, Ltd. in the 1960s and 1970s, and it is his vocals that are heard out front on their 1969 Phil Spector-produced hit, "Black Pearl". Charles launched a solo career in the early 1970s, and after a brief reunion with the Checkmates, again from the 1980s. Thereafter, to the mid to late 1990's playing at casinos at Lake Tahoe and off the strip in Las Vegas he toured with another member of the Checkmates, Ltd., Marvin "Sweet Louie" Smith, under the Checkmates name.
Track list and 30sec audio provided by
Title | Artist | Year | Type |
---|---|---|---|
Always On My Mind | Sonny Charles | 1982 | Single |
The Sun Still Shines | Sonny Charles | 1982 | Album |
Put It In A Magazine | Sonny Charles | 1982 | Single |
Black Pearl / Half As Much | Sonny Charles | 1973 | Single |
Nicasio / It's Alright In The City | Sonny Charles | 1973 | Single |
It's Alright In The City (Todo Va Bien En La Ciudad) / Nicasio | Sonny Charles | 1972 | Single |
Half As Much | Sonny Charles | 1970 | Single |
I Keep Forgettin' / Do You Love Your Baby | The Checkmates LTD., Sonny Charles | 1970 | Single |
I Keep Forgettin' / Do You Love Your Baby | The Checkmates LTD., Sonny Charles | 1970 | Single |
It Takes A Little Longer / Welfare Man | Sonny Charles | 1970 | Single |
Proud Mary / Do You Love Your Baby | The Checkmates Ltd. Featuring Oten Music Publ. Co. | 1969 | Single |
Please Don't Take My World Away / Mastered The Art Of Love | The Checkmates LTD. Featuring Sonny Charles | 1967 | Single |
Black Pearl / Love Is All I Have To Give | Sonny Charles and The Checkmates LTD. | Single | |
Please Don't Take My World Away | The Checkmates LTD. Featuring Sonny Charles | Single | |
Bless You / Talk To Me, Talk To Me | Sonny Charles | Single |
Sonny Charles & The Checkmates |
Sonny Charles |
Sonny Charles And Checkmates Ltd. |