Sonny Charles with Steve Miller Band

With Steve Miller Band, Sonny Charles moves out of a career Checkmate

Sonny Charles of Checkmates fame with Steve Miller in concert

By John Katsilometes · May 20, 2010 · 5:28 PM

For a long time Sonny Charles sensed that his long friendship and musical partnership with Marvin Smith was coming to an end. “Sweet Louie,” as Marvin forever was known onstage, was not a healthy man as he reached his late 60s.

There were times when Sweet Louie struggled to finish shows. There were times when he struggled and couldn’t finish shows.

Still, the duo forged ahead as The Checkmates, or rather, “The Legendary Checkmates!” as they were known at such Vegas haunts as Arizona Charlie’s Naughty Lady Saloon and Sahara’s Casbar Lounge.

Finally and without fanfare The Checkmates, who for five decades were featured in Vegas lounges and in clubs across the country, quietly passed away.

Read more at: Las Vegas Sun, March 16, 2011