The Checkmates

A high school combo in the mid-60s, featuring members from local private schools, that disbanded upon graduation.

Most notably the group appeared in the "Combo Mania" article in The Tennessean in The Sunday Showcase section on August 22, 1965, that helped explain the combo concept to a general audience.

In the article, Landstreet, identified as lead guitarist from BGA, explains their motivation for starting the group, symbolic of many a young combo group: "[we] just sort of wanted to do it. But just through high school."

The only other appearance of the group in the Tennessean newspaper occurs a year later in a listing for fraternity parties at Vanderbilt. That listing represents a cross-section of the types of entertainment employed by frats, including The Deltas, a combo from Gallatin, The Checkmates, The Prophets, a gospel group from Knoxville, and The James Gang, a combo that only shows up in late '66 in a few mentions as well.

Members

Collins Landstreet - lead guitar

Steve Smith - drums

Roger Morrison - guitar

Chris Riddell - bass

References

The Tennessean, "Combo Mania," Aug. 22 1965

The Tennessean, "Party Spotlight on Fraternities," Nov 13 1966