Originally Posted by
jsmith
MORE ON CHOKER ......... taken from an old SDF thread with bits off the net added ......
Choker played tenor sax mostly and was best known for leading his own band [[a 16 piece outfit in the 60’s). His recording career began in Cleveland around 1950 with the Lucky-7 label. Honey Brown [[of Detroit) recut her song "Rockin' and Jumpin'" [[originally released in 1951) with the Choker Campbell Orchestra for the Fortune label in Detroit in 1952. Chocker Campbell & his Batchelors of Rhythm backed many 1950s groups / vocalists [[Billy Ward & the Dominoes, the Clovers, Charles Brown, etc). He was so successful behind the various Atlantic acts [[Joe Turner, Ruth Brown & more) that they took him on permanently as their tour band and eventually recorded him in his own right. He backed Big Joe Turner on Atlantic in 1957 [[and in the movie "Shake Rattle & Rock") and also recorded with Lowell Fulson on Checker that year. He also cut for labels such as Apt / Everlast 1958 [["Walk Awhile"/"Walking On My Thin-Sole Shoes") and joined Motown in the 1960’s where he led the band that supported the Motor Town Revues. Berry hired him for the revues because he brought a certain glitziness to the live shows [[his band gave performances a polished night-club sound). It was Choker & the band who backed up the Marvelettes at thar group’s Apollo Theatre shows in 1962. Although his work was mainly on the road, he did do some studio work including his own 1964 album. He ran the recording sessions for big band dates for the likes of Billy Eckstine, Tony Martin and Barbara McNair. He led the house band at the Motown owned Graystone Ballroom where several unreleased live sessions were recorded. Choker was Hattie Littles' cousin, and she toured with him for some time. Choker Campbell and his band kept backing live revues [[playing the Fox Theater and other venues) after he had left Motown. In July 1967, Choker and his band were the featured orchestra for "The Swingin' Time Revue" [[they backed Deon Jackson, the Parliaments, the Soul Twins, the Little Soul Brothers, J.J. Barnes and Martha Reeves & the Vandellas. After Motown he worked at Magic City before moving out to Saginaw, Mich. to form the Tri-City [[Red Topp & the Young Family + others), Moonville USA, Ultra City and Gospel Train labels. Later ventures include the Aspro, Campo and Candy Apple labels, the latter being based in Toronto.
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