G.E.M.S.

The Gems' career began for Leonard and Phil Chess' Chess/Checker/Cadet setup as the Lovettes (no connection to the Lovettes on Carnival Records). Marshall High School students Jessica Collins (lead), Verdine Harrison, Theresa Washburn, Dorothy Hucklebee, and Bertha Watts cut two unsuccessful singles on Checker Records: "One More Year" b/w "The Crush" (1962) and "Hands Off" b/w "A Love of Mine." Blind pianist/writer Raynard Miner was the secret Gem, and he and Billy "Roquel" Davis, either together or in other combinations, supplied nearly all their material. Roquel was Chess' A...