History The Chessmen

The Chessmen feature in almost every account of the Dallas music scene in the mid and late '60s. Famous at the time for their live shows, the Chessmen are remembered now for the members who went on to national fame: Doyle Bramhall played with and wrote songs for Stevie Ray Vaughn, Bill Etheridge played bass with ZZ Top before Dusty Hill, and Jimmie Vaughn was in the Fabulous Thunderbirds.

Beyond their legend, the Chessmen's legacy consists of rare photos of the band and a few 45s. Their second record, "I Need You There" / "Sad", was their best, recorded before any of the people named above were even in the band. The Chessmen's story is confusing with many personnel changes.

Original lineup:

Robert Patton - guitar and vocals

Ron DiIulio - keyboards

Tommy Carter - bass

Tommy Carrigan - drums

Second lineup:

Robert Patton - guitar and vocals

Jim Herbert - guitar and vocals

Tommy Carter - bass and vocals

Tom Carrigan - drums

Third lineup (Peebles and Bramhall joined separately, so there was probably some overlap with Tom Carrigan or Jim Herbert)

Robert Patton - guitar and vocals

Johnny Peebles - guitar

Tommy Carter - bass and vocals

Doyle Bramhall - drums and vocals

Fourth lineup:

Jimmie Vaughn - lead guitar

Johnny Peebles - guitar

Tommy Carter - bass and vocals

Doyle Bramhall - drums and vocals

Final lineup:

Jimmie Vaughn - lead guitar

Bill Etheridge - rhythm guitar, keyboards and vocals

Tommy Carter - bass and vocals

Doyle Bramhall - drums and lead voca

The Chessmen formed in early 1964 on the campus of North Texas State University (now University of North Texas) in the town of Denton, about 25 miles from Dallas. The original lineup included Robert Patton of the west Texas town of Midland on rhythm guitar and vocals, Tommy Carrigan of Denton on drums, Ron DiIulio on keyboards and Tommy Carter on bass.

Tommy Carter was the only member who stayed with the band until the Chessmen broke up in 1968.

This first lineup recorded one unmemorable 45 on Bismark, a cover of the Drifters' hit "Save The Last Dance For Me" complete with a girl chorus. The flip was a good if mellow atmospheric instrumental "Dreams And Wishes" written by guitarist Robert Patton.

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