Meet The Checkmates Vol.2

Famous producer and little-known singer Ray Ruff (Marvin Ray Ruffin)

Born Marvin Ray Ruffin in Amarillo, Texas in 1938, he was 18 when joined the staff of producer Norman Petty's Clovis, New Mexico recording studio, the site where Holly recorded his earliest hits. Ray Ruff was a friend of Buddy Holly in the late 1950s, from 1956 when they used to play baseball together to Buddy's tragic end in early 1959. 

After Holly's tragic death, Petty groomed Ruff as the singer's replacement and assembled a backing band dubbed the Checkmates. Between 1959 and 1963 Ruff cut some two dozen Petty-produced sides and even often wore Holly's trademark horn-rimmed glasses in the studio. The end result was a pale imitation at best and singles including "I Need Someone," "Love Made a Fool of You," and "My Gift to You" went nowhere. Ruff, however, learned a thing or two about the music industry from Petty, and after a brief tenure with the Lin label, where he cut the 1964 novelty tune "Beatle Maniacs," Ruff founded his own short-lived Storme label on which he issued his final headlining effort "Ummm Oh Yeah." He then relocated to Los Angeles and signed with Dot Records' A&R staff. Widely credited as the father of modern music promotion thanks to his ingenious, headline-grabbing stunts, Ruff eventually took over the label's A&R department. He also moved into production and worked with such artists as Glen Campbell, Lesley Gore, Brian Hyland, and the Blue Things.

In 1970, MGM Records president Mike Curb wooed Ruff away from Dot to head his own MGM affiliate, Oak Records. At Oak, he also resumed his recording career and teamed with singer/songwriter Val Stoecklein to create a Biblical rock opera titled Truth of Truths. In 1977 Ruff and Curb began Curb Records, the country label where Ruff enjoyed his greatest success. Through Curb's affiliation with the Warner and Capitol families, he worked with many of the biggest names in Nashville, including Kenny Rogers, Hank Williams, Jr., Merle Haggard, and George Strait. In addition, Ruff launched the careers of artists such as Dwight Yoakam, Juice Newton, Reba McEntire, and Kathy Mattea. While overseeing a resurrected Oak label.

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Ray Ruff & The Checkmates – I Took A Liking To You @ 192

(The Buddy Holly Sounds Of Ray Ruff )

Unofficial Release 

Hydra Records BCK 27116  (2002) 

All of these songs were recorded and released on various labels from 1959 to 1964, a five-year period which marked the final days of the old indie 45-rpm single pop-rock-R&B market before the British Invasion changed the music industry forever. It was a sock-hop malt-shop more innocent time, and this is reflected in every one of these songs, a product of its time in music history.

 1. Ray Ruff & The Checkmates - I Took A Liking To You  (1:49)

 2. Ray Ruff & The Checkmates - Beatle Maniacs  (1:57)

 3. Ray Ruff & The Checkmates - Long Long Ponytail  (2:15)

 4. Ray Ruff & The Checkmates - My Wish Is You  (2:16)

 5. Ray Ruff & The Checkmates - (Ummm, Oh Yeah) Dearest  (2:22)

 6. Ray Ruff & The Checkmates - Well All Right  (1:45)

 7. Ray Ruff & The Checkmates - Love  (2:24)

 8. Ray Ruff & The Checkmates - My Gift To You  (2:15)

 9. Ray Ruff & The Checkmates - Pledge Of Love  (2:21)

 10. Ray Ruff & The Checkmates - Pretty Blue Eyes  (2:12)

 11. Ray Ruff & The Checkmates - I'm Gonna Love You Too  (2:02)

 12. Ray Ruff & The Checkmates - Lonely Hours  (2:04)

 13. Ray Ruff & The Checkmates - In Dreamland  (2:45)

 14. Ray Ruff & The Checkmates - A Fool Again  (1:59)

 15. Ray Ruff & The Checkmates - Angel Blue  (2:24)

 16. Ray Ruff & The Checkmates - Love Made A Fool Of Me  (1:49)

 17. Ray Ruff & The Checkmates - Let Me Tell You About Linda  (2:20)

 18. Ray Ruff & The Checkmates - I Need Someone  (2:08)

 19. Ray Ruff & The Checkmates - He Girlfriend's Car  (1:56)

 20. Ray Ruff & The Checkmates - Half-Pint Baby  (1:48)

 21. Ray Ruff & The Checkmates - I'm Qualified  (2:25)

 22. Ray Ruff & The Checkmates - A Dream  (2:04)

 23. Ray Ruff & The Checkmates - The Kixz Twist  (1:28)

 24. Ray Ruff & The Checkmates - you call everybody darling (unreleased)  (2:14)

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The Checkmates / Charming Checkmates

Members (at various times): 

Jerry Hodges-Bass, Chuck Tharp-guitar, Larry Marcum-lead guitar, Chico Apodacca--drums, Bobby Hacker--drums, Chuck McClure-guitar, Price Pritchett-guitar, Tom Beck--bass, Gary Swafford-drums, Chano Preciado--drums, John Holcombe--bass

The Checkmates were from Amarillo, Texas, better known as Ray Ruff & The Checkmates. They recorded and released about eight 45s, recorded at Norman Petty Studios in Clovis, New York, where Ruff served as staff producer.

1965 - Charming Checkmates –  a.Just To Make Me Cry

1965 - The Checkmates - a.Hey Girl / b.All The Time Now

 "Hey Girl/All The Time Now" was the last he released under the name The Checkmates on his label, Ruff Records.

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