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The Cheques’ claim to fame on the rare soul scene was via a track entitled “Deeper”. Initially acquired from record collector and dealer Dave Raistrick this 45 was championed on the UK northern soul scene in the 1990’s by DJ Butch, covered up as Dave Newman and the Checkers “I Go Deeper”. The band were compromised a group of mostly young white Air Force personnel. Members included Tony Nardi (keyboards, vocals), Mike Ventimiglia (now also known as Dagger) on lead vocal, Sam Ryland (bass guitar, vocals), Chuck Parrino (drums, background vocals) and Matthew Joshua (rhythm guitar). Joshua was later replaced...

The In-Men Ltd. (originally known as The In-Men Combo and In-Man Ltd.) were from Burlington and Graham, NC. They were hugely popular throughout the south, running as the In-Men Ltd. from 1966 until 1971, with a reunion and further recordings in 2004. The band should not be confused with Bob Kuban's In-men of "˜The Cheater" fame, another beach music favourite but who hailed from St. Louis, Missouri. "Wilson Rogers (the founder of the band) grew up in Graham, NC just next door to Burlington and Elon College" says guitarist Sonny Long. "His brother Tommy was our drummer.  Moose Smith (keyboard)...

This blog section is usually reserved for referencing things of a literary nature rather than music media. However, keen to make an exception here for some news that may interest readers who are fans of blues and soul from the south eastern states of the US. "Little Al" and the Maxidynes may be a familiar name to rare soul fans for a particular Shell 45 label release from the 1960s. Well... "Allen" McLaurin has recently brought out a new CD "Long Time Coming". I heard about this project via Van Coble, bass player for the Tempests, and Nat Speir, co-founder...

Herbert Hunter was the son of Baptist minister and came from a large family. As a young child he started singing for his father in church with his brother Rufus (who was later to record for Ted Jarrett and Bob Holmes label Ref-O-Ree). Jarrett first encountered Hunter in 1957 singing outside a bar on Jefferson Street, whilst Hunter was attempting to get noticed and obtain work. Jarrett saw his potential talent and befriended him. Jarrett taught Hunter songs on the piano and eventually found him a job at the Del Morocco on Jefferson Street. In the late 1950s Ted Jarrett...

Peggy Walker (nee Gaines) (b. 1944) was born and raised in Nashville, in a family of four children. There was no specific professional music talent within the family at that time - her entry into singing was through church, school competitions and a variety of local and regional singing competitions, from around the age of ten years. Peggy attended Cameron High School where she sang in the glee club and school choir, before she met band leader Bob Holmes and embarked on a professional singing career. Robert L. Holmes (b. unknown d. 2000) was born in Mississippi but raised in...