Chess Records 80

The recording on Checker 1017 by James Dixon was the subject of a legal action against Chess by Duke/Peacock Records of Houston, who alleged that the recording was by the Rev. Robert Ballinger, who was at the time under contract to them.

  Floyd Dixon | Specialty Records | tc090 Pianist and singer Jay Riggins Jr. (Floyd Dixon) was born in Marshall, Texas on February 8, 1929. He was a pioneer of country influenced jump blues. His family moved to California in 1942. He was influenced by Charles Brown. In 1949 he signed with Modern Records. In 1993, Dixon received a Pioneer Award from the Rhythm and Blues Foundation. Floyd Dixon died  of cancer-related renal failure  in Orange County, California, on July 26, 2006. 

A gospel music act signed to Chess, the Dixieland singers were formed in Jackson, Tenn. by a Mr. Pittman. The lead singer on the Chess recording, which dates from 1955, is understood to be Tommie Humphrey. Both persons are understood to be deceased. Can anyone provide more information about this group, please.

Larry Diamond was a rockabilly singer from Dallas, Texas, who had a small number of single releases on different labels. No further details are known.

  Clinton Ford | The Independent | tc670 Ian George Stopford Harrison, who sung under the names of Clinton Ford and Ali Ben Dhown, was born on 4 November 1931 in Salford, Lancashire. In 1957 he joined Butlins Holiday Camps as a "Red Coat". During the winter periods of those years he sang with a jazz band at the Cavern Club, Liverpool. He donated the proceeds from his first successful release with Oriole Records, "Old Shep", to Guide Dogs For The Blind. His biggest hit with Oriole was "Fanlight Fanny" (1962). He regularly appeared on BBC Radio programmes such as "Saturday Club" where live singers were required to sing current hits due to the shortage of needle time. Saturday Club's main presenter, Brian Matthew, was chosen to be Best Man at his wedding. He often recorded with musician George Chisholm.  Clinton Ford died after a long illness on 21 October 2009 in Douglas, Isle of Man.

  Dean DeWolf LP cover | Acoustic Sounds | tc184 Dean DeWolf was a little known folk singer who recorded two albums for Argo at the height of the folk boom in 1963 and 1964. His whereabouts since are unknown.