Emerging from the now famous 'Relic Rack' scene in New Jersey, the Chessmen were part of the early sixties integration of rhythm & blues, gospel and rock 'n roll. With a bass singer who could go lower than low, the Chessmen, who wrote most of their own tunes, established a following and were one of the first groups to sing live acappella on the 'Times Square' radio show, popular at the time. Songs like 'I Apologize' and 'That's My Desire' are typical of their robust and dynamic sound, which is characterized by prominent bass parts, athletic leads and chunky backing chords.