Cookie V

Bo Diddley with the Bo-Ettes featuring Cookie V | Restored by Google | tc488

Cornelia Redmond-Chavez (Cookie V) was born in 1948 and died in late 1999 aged 50. She met Bo Diddley in Washington, became one of his background singers and toured with him for more than 25 years, including at the Woodstock pop festival. She was famed for her humourous interactions with Diddley, and for her pet monkey, which accompanied her on some tours. She ceased performing due to failing health in 1986.

Thanks to Marc for his detective work on this artiste.

Cookie V Obituary, Baltimore Sun

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Mamie Bradley

Mamie Bradley was spotted in a restaurant called Wells in Harlem, New York and was signed to Sue Records of New York in 1958. Chess subsequently purchased the masters of the Sue recordings.

“I feel like a million” was first released on Sue 702. The version issued on Chess 1686 is understood to be a different take.

No photos or biographical details for Ms Bradley are currently available: can anyone help, please?

Thanks to Marc for his help with this item.

King Solomon

King Solomon | Discogs | tc487

Sylvester Lee Melicious Solomon (King Solomon) was born in Louisiana on October 12, 1940. In the early ’50s he joined the Friendly Brothers Spiritual Quartet out of Jackson Mississippi.

He toured with B.B. King, Etta James and the Olympics, then in 1959 signed with Liberty in Los Angeles without success. He recorded ”Non – Support Blues” for the small “Ball” label which was leased to Checker for national distribution.

The gentleman’s current whereabouts are unknown: can anyone help, please?

Thanks to Marc for his research.

Chuck Bernard

Chuck Bernard | Copyright control | tc486

Chicago singer and songwriter/A&R man Chuck Bernard was from St Louis, Missouri, where he first came to note as a member of a doo wop group called The Blue Notes. It is understood that they were not the Blue Notes of Harold Melvin fame. In 1964 he became signed to Satellite/St Lawrence Records where as well as performing management roles, he also made recordings. When Satellite folded in 1967 Chess acquired all the assets. He went on to record for other labels without enormous success. This artiste’s current whereabouts are unknown; can anyone help, please?

The Ideals

The Ideals | Satellite Records Archive | tc485

The Ideals were a vocal group from Chicago who first formed in 1952 and recorded for a variety of labels. Their recording “Kissing won’t go out of style” for Satellite Records, which was distributed by Chess, was their most successful recording, in 1966. The group at that time are thought to have been Reggie Jackson, Leonard Mitchell and Sam Steward. Some web sites have his name as Stewart. Previous line ups of the group had included another Chicago stalwart, Major Lance. The group broke up in 1967.

There was another 1950s group also known as The Ideals.

Laura Lee – Love more than Pride

CD-1096

Laura Lee – Love More than Pride

Mama’s Got a Good Thing | Another Man’s Woman | It Ain’t What You Do (But How You Do It) | She Don’t Love You | It’s All Wrong, But It’s All right | I Need to Belong to Someone | Dirty Old Man | But You Know I Love You | That’s How It Is | It’s How You Make It Good | Love More Than Pride | Uptight Good Man | Wanted: Lover, No Experience Necessary | As Long As I Got You | A Man With Some Backbone | She Will Break Your Heart | Hang It Up | Sure As Sin |Dirty Old Man

Laura Lee – The Chess Collection

CD-1095

Laura Lee – The Chess Collection:

Mama’s Got A Good Thing | Another Man’s Woman | It Ain’t What You Do (But How You Do It) | It’s All Wrong But It’s All Right | Need To Belong | Dirty Man | But You Know I Love You | That’s How It Is | It’s How You Make It Good | Love More Than Pride | Are You Doing Me Wrong | As Long As I Got You | She Will Break Your Heart | A Man With Some Backbone | Wanted: Lover, No Experience Necessary | Hang It Up | It’s Mighty Hard | Uptight Good Man (Single Version) | You Need Me | Stop Giving Your Man Away